Copying a formula down a column

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Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

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

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

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

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

5. D2 has the formula =B2*C2. Which formula will D4 have after you fill down?

A =B4*C4

B =B2*C4

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1fill handle		AThe formula in C3 changes to =B3*2 because the cell reference moves down one row.
2=B2*2 copied down from C2 to C3		BThe small square at the corner of a cell. Drag it down to copy the formula into the cells below.
3After you copy =A2+B2 down one row, the new cell has a formula that uses the next row		CThe 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.
4Checking a copied result: click the last cell and look at its formula to make sure it uses its own row		DThis wastes time and can cause typing errors. Type the formula once, then drag the fill handle down the column.
5C3 shows =B2*2 after copying the formula from C2 down		E=B6*2
6Retyping =B22, =B32, =B4*2 in every cell by hand		F=A3+B3

Definitions

fill handle

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

C2: =A2*B2 Fill down to C3: =A3*__

Drag the ___________ to copy a formula down

D2: =B2+C2 D3: =B3+C3 D4: =B4+__

B2 becomes __ when copied one row down

Click a copied cell to check its _______

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A C2: A2*B2

B Drag the fill handle down

C C3 becomes =A3*B3

D C4 becomes =A4*B4

Question 2

A D2: =B2+C2

B Drag fill handle to D4

C D3 becomes =B2+C2

D D4 becomes =B4+C4

Question 3

A E2: =SUM(B2:D2)

B Drag fill handle down

C E3 becomes =SUM(B3:D2)

D E4 becomes =SUM(B4:D4)

Question 4

A D2: =B2*C3

B Drag the fill handle down

C D3 becomes =B3*C3

D Check each answer is right

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

Answer Key

Copying a formula down a column

Section A: Quick Questions

A — It copies the formula to the cells below

A — =A3+B3

B — The small square at the corner of the selected cell

B — You do not have to type the same formula again for every row

A — =B4*C4

Section B: 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.

Section C: Definitions

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.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

C2: =A2*B2
Fill down to C3: =A3*B3

Drag the fill handle to copy a formula down

D2: =B2+C2
D3: =B3+C3
D4: =B4+C4

B2 becomes B3 when copied one row down

Click a copied cell to check its formula

Section E: Spot the Error

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.

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.

C — Every reference in the formula changes row by row. The range in row 3 should be B3:D3, not B3:D2.

A — The first formula must use cells from its own row. D2 should be =B2*C2, otherwise every copy will use the wrong cells.

C — To copy a formula down a column you drag the fill handle down, not sideways. Dragging sideways copies it across the row.