Cell Referencing (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE ICT)
Revision Note
Written by: Robert Hampton
Reviewed by: James Woodhouse
Relative
What is an relative cell reference?
A relative cell reference means that when a formula is copied the cell reference can change
The reference is relative to the cell containing the formula
It is the default cell referencing used in spreadsheets
Example
Consider the following example spreadsheet:
| A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 | 20 |
|
2 | 5 | 15 |
|
When you copy a formula that includes a relative cell reference, spreadsheet software adjusts the reference relative to the new location
For example, if you copy the formula "=A1+B1" from cell C1 to C2, the formula will adjust to "=A2+B2"
What are the benefits of relative cell references?
Relative cell references saves time by automatically adjusting references when being copied, improving efficiency
Relative cell references are flexible and allow users to create formulas that can be used on a range of data
Absolute
What is an absolute cell reference?
An absolute cell reference means that when a formula is copied the cell reference does not change
Absolute cell references are fixed using the $ symbol
Example
Consider the following example spreadsheet:
A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 | 20 |
|
2 | 5 | 15 |
|
If you input the formula "=A1+B1" in cell C1 and drag the fill handle down to copy the formula to cell C2, the formula in C2 will change to "=A2+B2"
But if you input the formula "=$A$1+B1" in cell C1 and drag the fill handle down, the formula in C2 will still refer to cell A1: "=$A$1+B2"
What are the benefits of absolute cell references?
Absolute cell reference provide consistency in a spreadsheet, for example:
Calculations using a tax rate (fixed) that you want consistently applied across the spreadsheet
Absolute cell references provide clarity in formulas, they become easier to understand
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