ADENUGBA OLUWAJUWON TDI ASSIGNMENT 2 SUBMISSION (MICROSOFT EXCEL)

1. Explain what a cell reference is in Excel and why it's important in creating formulas and
functions.

ANSWER

In Excel, a cell reference is an identifier to locate and manipulate data stored in a

specific cell or range of cells. It typically consists of a combination of letters and numbers
representing the cell's column and row. For example, "A1" refers to the cell in the first column
and first row.

Cell references are crucial in creating formulas and functions because they allow you to
reference data within your spreadsheet dynamically. By referencing cells rather than hard-
coding values into formulas, your calculations can update automatically whenever the
referenced cells change. This dynamic behavior is essential for keeping your data analysis and
reports current. Cell references also allow you to create formulas and functions that can be
copied and applied across multiple cells or ranges. This saves time and reduces errors
compared to manually inputting values into each formula.

2. Differentiate between relative and absolute cell references in Excel. Provide examples of
when each type of reference would be used.

ANSWER

Relative references in Excel adjust when moved to other cells. Excel automatically
adjusts the references based on the change in location. Relative references are denoted by just
the column letter and row number (e.g., A1, B2). For example, if you have a formula in cell B2
with the formula `=A1`, and you copy that formula one step down, it will automatically adjust to
`=A2`.

Absolute references in Excel remain fixed when copied or moved to other cells.
Absolute references are denoted by adding a dollar sign ($) before the column letter and row
number (e.g., $A$1).

Examples of when to use each type of reference:

Relative References: These are commonly used when you want a formula to adjust
based on its position relative to the data it is referencing. For example, in a sales report, use
relative referencing to calculate total sales for each month. For instance, in cell E2, use
`=SUMIFS(D:D,MONTH(A:A),1)` to calculate January's total sales. When copied down, the
formula adjusts to calculate totals for subsequent months automatically.

Absolute References: These are useful when you want a formula to always refer to a
specific cell, regardless of where it is copied or moved. For example, calculating tax or
commission based on a fixed rate that should apply to a specific cell (e.g., tax rate in cell $A$1).

3. Discuss the significance of mixed cell references in Excel formulas and how they differ from
absolute and relative references.

ANSWER

Mixed cell references in Excel formulas combine elements of both absolute and relative
references. They allow you to fix either the column or row while leaving the other part of the
reference relative. There are two types of mixed references: mixed column reference and mixed
row reference.
In a mixed-column reference, the column is fixed, but the row can change. For example,
$A1. If you copy a formula with this reference, the column will remain fixed (A), but the row will
adjust based on the new position. However, in a mixed row reference, the row is fixed, but the
column can change. For example, A$1. If you copy a formula with this reference, the row will
remain fixed (1), but the column will adjust based on the new position.

5. Explain the difference between a formula and a function in Excel. Provide an example of each
using the dataset.

ANSWER

In Excel, formulas are user-created sequences of mathematical operations, while

functions are predefined operations provided by Excel.

For example:
= SUMIFS(J2:L100, G2:I100, ">10")

The whole statement above is a user-defined formula that uses the predefined SUMIFS function
to carry out to calculate the total revenue for transactions where the quantity of products
purchased is greater than 10