In cell C6, enter a formula that multiplies the value in C5 for Atlanta city by the value in cell B6. Use a mixed reference for cell B6 so that only column B does not change when copied. Use relative references for all other cell references.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct formula to enter in cell C6 is:
=C5*$B6
Explanation:
In spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, formulas can incorporate absolute, relative, or mixed references to control how cell references adjust when copied across a range. For this task, the formula in cell C6 must multiply the value in C5, which corresponds to Atlanta city, by the value in B6 while ensuring that only the column reference for B6 remains fixed when copied.
- Relative References: The reference to C5 is relative, meaning it changes dynamically when copied to other rows or columns. If the formula is copied downward to C7, the reference automatically updates to C6.
- Mixed Reference: The reference to B6 is written as
$B6, making it a mixed reference. The dollar sign before “B” ensures that the column reference remains fixed as column B, regardless of where the formula is copied. However, since the row number remains relative, it changes when the formula is copied downward. - Purpose of Mixed References: Using
$B6ensures that all calculations consistently use values from column B, even when the formula is copied across multiple rows. This maintains accuracy when performing bulk computations involving varying row values.
By structuring the formula this way, it correctly applies multiplication across different rows while ensuring stability in referencing column B. This approach is particularly useful in cases involving structured datasets where column-based multiplication is required while preserving row-specific changes in data.
