Building a Spreadsheet Model: Cell

Addressing in Excel

Objectives:
 To understand how formulas are copied
 Relative & Absolute Cell Referencing

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

The “Power” of using Spreadsheet Applications
=B2*C2
Copy formula from
D2 to D3

 Each entry can be related to other values by including

cell referencing in formulas. A formula is a sequence of
values and/or cell references.
 Formula values are automatically updated when a
referenced value changes
 Formulas can be copied to perform the same
 operations on a corresponding set Cost Component Percentages

carrots
of data
onions

 Charts can be easily generated

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 Copying Formulas
Another Advantage of an Electronic Spreadsheet in the
ability to Copy Formulas and re-use them

Copy a cell or a range of cells down columns,

across rows or both - Use the Copy & Paste
features or by using the Fill handle feature.
CS&E 1111 ExFormulas
 Relative Addressing

In Relative Addressing the cell references in

a formula are automatically adjusted
“relatively” when you copy the formula into
another cell. The resulting formula to
depending on the displacement from the
original position.

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 Relative Addressing- Example:

Copy the formula in cell A3 into cells B3,

A4 and C6. What new formulas will result?
B3:col shift = 1; row shift = 0 = B1+B2
A4:col shift = 0; row shift =1 = A2+A3
C6:col shift = 2; row shift =3 = C4+C5

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 How can you write a formula in cell D6 to add
5% to the corresponding base price cost?

 In D6 you want to multiply the value 575 by 1.05

 Write the formula = B6*(1+B1)
 What happens when you copy it down and
across?

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 Absolute Addressing
 To keep a reference “Absolute ” with
respect to both Row and Column use a $
in front of the column and row: $B$1
 When copying a term in a formula that has
absolute cell referencing, the displacement
has no effect on the resulting formula.

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 How can you write a formula in cell D6 to add
5% to the corresponding base price cost?

 Use the formula: =B6*(1+$B$1)

 Now when this is copied to cell E8 – a
displacement of 1 column and 2 rows the new
formula will be:
 =C8*(1+$B$1)

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

What formula could you write in cell D5 to calculate
total cost so that it can be copied both down the
column and across the row?

• In D5 you want to multiply ‘1’ - #trips to Site A by $125 –

$/trip
• If you write the formula = B5*D2 what happens when you
copy it down and across? What should change in the
formula & what should stay the same?

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 Mixed Cell Referencing
 To reference a cell Absolutely with respect to
Row and Relatively with respect to Column
 Use this notation : D$2
 Entry in D5 is = B5*D$2. Copy to the
following:
 D6 is = ??
 E5 is = ??
 E7 is = ??

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 Mixed Cell Referencing
To reference a cell Absolutely with respect to
Column and Relatively with respect to Row
Use this notation : $B3

Write a formula in cell E3, which can be copied across the

row and down the column, to calculate the total trip expenses
for the Sales Group to Site A.

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

Example: Write a formula in F4 that can be copied
down to calculate the percentage of Blue’s score to
the total possible score.

•Divide Blue’s score by the total possible points = E4/E2

•When you copy this down you want the person’s score to
change to the new person’s score but the total possible points
to remain the same
• The final formula should be ???

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 A Multiplication Table

What formula would you write in cell B2 to calculate

the product. This formula must work when copied
down the column and across the row to form the 5’s
Multiplication table.

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 Another convenience in Excel is the
ability to Name cells…
 Names can be assigned to cells.
 Name of a cell is a mapping to its absolute
address.
 This name can now be used in formulas to
refer to that cell. It will be considered an
absolute address.
 Select the cell you want to name, click on
the Name Box, enter name and then press
Enter or use the Name Manager tool located
on the Formulas Ribbon.

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

Can we use a named range for
Service Fee?

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 EXCEL ERROR VALUES

 ##### - Numeric value too wide to display

 #DIV/0! - Divide by 0 occurs
 #N/A - Data being referenced is not available
 #NAME? - Text in formula is not recognized
 #NUM! - Problem with a number in a formula or
function
 #REF! - Cell reference is not valid
 #VALUE! - Wrong type of argument or operand in a
formula

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas

 Summary
In this lecture we discussed how to write and
copy formulas specifically addressing the
following:
 Data precision vs. display

 Excel operators and order of precedence

 Relative & Absolute cell referencing

 Error Messages

CS&E 1111 ExFormulas