← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Copying a formula down a column

The small square at a cell's corner. Drag it down to copy a formula to the cells below. The cell references change row by row, so B2 becomes B3.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 28, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 8, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 61, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 8, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 10, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 44, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 19

Understanding Copying a formula down a column in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: Each reference moves down one row when the formula is copied down, so A2 becomes A3 and B2 becomes B3. The references change row by row. Moving down one row changes A2 to A3 and B2 to B3. Click a cell and look at its bottom right corner. The small square there is the fill handle. Always check copied results. Click on a few cells to see their formulas and ask if the answers make sense. The fill handle is the tool that copies a formula down a column so you do not have to retype it. A correctly copied formula updates its references row by row, so C3 must use B3.

Common mistakes: A formula must start with =. Without it the cell shows plain text and the fill handle copies text, not a calculation. It should be C2: =A2*B2. When the fill handle copies a formula down, the row numbers go up by one each row. D3 should become =B3+C3, not stay on row 2.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 21–30) and word search (Modules 21–56).

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Learning
Duo
What does dragging the fill handle down a column do with a formula?
It deletes the formula from the cellIt copies the formula to the cells below
Matches
C3 shows =B2*2 after copying the formula from C2 down
↓
The reference did not move to row 3. C3 should show =B3*2. Check that you dragged the fill handle instead of copying the typed text.
Applying
Meanings
Term
fill handle
Meaning
The small square at a cell's corner. Drag it down to copy a formula to the cells below. The cell references change row by row, so B2 becomes B3.
Practice
C2: =A2*B2
Testing
Gaps
Fill down to C3: =A3*
Check Answer
Spots
1C2: A2*B2
2Drag the fill handle down

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Quick Questions

1. What does dragging the fill handle down a column do with a formula?
A. It copies the formula to the cells below ✓
B. It deletes the formula from the cell
The fill handle is the small square in the corner of a cell. Dragging it down copies the formula into each cell it passes over.
2. Cell C2 has the formula =A2+B2. You drag the fill handle down to C3. What formula will C3 have?
A. =A3+B3 ✓
B. =A2+B2
The references change row by row. Moving down one row changes A2 to A3 and B2 to B3.
3. Where is the fill handle found?
A. The Sort button on the toolbar
B. The small square at the corner of the selected cell ✓
Click a cell and look at its bottom right corner. The small square there is the fill handle.
4. Why is copying a formula down a column helpful?
A. It makes the numbers in the cells bigger
B. You do not have to type the same formula again for every row ✓
Fill handle saves time. One formula can be copied to many rows, and each row uses its own numbers.
5. D2 has the formula =B2*C2. Which formula will D4 have after you fill down?
A. =B4*C4 ✓
B. =B2*C4
Each reference moves down two rows, from row 2 to row 4. B2 becomes B4 and C2 becomes C4.

Match the Pairs

fill handle → The small square at the corner of a cell. Drag it down to copy the formula into the cells below.
=B2*2 copied down from C2 to C3 → The formula in C3 changes to =B3*2 because the cell reference moves down one row.
After you copy =A2+B2 down one row, the new cell has a formula that uses the next row → =A3+B3
Checking a copied result: click the last cell and look at its formula to make sure it uses its own row → =B6*2
C3 shows =B2*2 after copying the formula from C2 down → The reference did not move to row 3. C3 should show =B3*2. Check that you dragged the fill handle instead of copying the typed text.
Retyping =B2*2, =B3*2, =B4*2 in every cell by hand → This wastes time and can cause typing errors. Type the formula once, then drag the fill handle down the column.

Key Term

fill handle
The small square at a cell's corner. Drag it down to copy a formula to the cells below. The cell references change row by row, so B2 becomes B3.

Fill in the Blanks

1. C2: =A2*B2 Fill down to C3: =A3*B3
Hint: Type the cell reference for column B after the formula is copied to row 3.
2. Drag the fill handle to copy a formula down
Hint: Type the name of the small square at the corner of a cell.
3. D2: =B2+C2 D3: =B3+C3 D4: =B4+C4
Hint: Type the cell reference that fits row 4 in column C.
4. B2 becomes B3 when copied one row down
Hint: Type the reference in the same column but one row lower.
5. Click a copied cell to check its formula
Hint: Type what you look at in the cell to check that the references changed correctly.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A C2: A2*B2
B Drag the fill handle down
C C3 becomes =A3*B3
D C4 becomes =A4*B4
Line A — A formula must start with =. Without it the cell shows plain text and the fill handle copies text, not a calculation. It should be C2: =A2*B2.
Question 2
A D2: =B2+C2
B Drag fill handle to D4
C D3 becomes =B2+C2
D D4 becomes =B4+C4
Line C — When the fill handle copies a formula down, the row numbers go up by one each row. D3 should become =B3+C3, not stay on row 2.
Question 3
A E2: =SUM(B2:D2)
B Drag fill handle down
C E3 becomes =SUM(B3:D2)
D E4 becomes =SUM(B4:D4)
Line C — Every reference in the formula changes row by row. The range in row 3 should be B3:D3, not B3:D2.
Question 4
A D2: =B2*C3
B Drag the fill handle down
C D3 becomes =B3*C3
D Check each answer is right
Line A — The first formula must use cells from its own row. D2 should be =B2*C2, otherwise every copy will use the wrong cells.
Question 5
A Type =B2*C2 in D2
B Click D2 to select it
C Drag the fill handle sideways
D Check the last cell's result
Line C — To copy a formula down a column you drag the fill handle down, not sideways. Dragging sideways copies it across the row.

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