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Spreadsheets and Charts
Quick questions on Formulas and cell references: N-Level Computer Applications spreadsheets
2short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are cell references?Show answer
A cell reference points the formula at another cell. =B2+B3 adds whatever is in those two cells. Because the formula reads the cells live, changing B2 instantly updates the result. This is why spreadsheets are powerful: you build the logic once and the numbers flow through.
What are relative references?Show answer
By default a reference is relative, meaning it is remembered as a direction rather than a fixed spot. When you copy the formula to another cell, the reference shifts by the same amount. Copy =B2C2 from row 2 down to row 3 and it becomes =B3C3. This is exactly what you want when every row needs the same calculation on its own data, because you write the formula once and copy it down the column.
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