Formulas start with =

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Formulas start with =

Name:
Date:
Class:
A

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which one is a spreadsheet formula?
A =A1+B1
B A1+B1
2. What do you type first to tell a spreadsheet you are writing a formula?
A The equals sign =
B The plus sign +
3. A1 holds 4 and B1 holds 6. You type =A1+B1 in C1. What shows in cell C1?
A =A1+B1
B 10
4. Which cell contains a typed value, not a formula?
A A cell where you typed 15
B A cell where you typed =A1+B1
5. A1 holds 3 and B1 holds 5. You type =A1+B1 in C1. Then you change A1 to 10. What happens to C1?
A It stays at 8
B It updates to 15
B

Match the Pairs

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

Left columnRight column
1=A1+B1 AThe equals sign is missing at the start, so the spreadsheet does not calculate. It just shows the text A1+B1. Fix: =A1+B1
2=C2*D2 B=B3-B4
3A formula starts with an equals sign so the spreadsheet calculates a result from cell values CThe equals sign is at the end instead of the start. A formula must begin with =. Fix: =A1+B1
4A typed value is just stored as it is. It does not calculate anything because it has no equals sign DA formula that adds the values in cells A1 and B1 and shows the total in the cell
5A1+B1 EA formula that multiplies the values in C2 and D2 and shows the answer in the cell
6A1+B1= F12
C

Definitions

=A1+B1
D

Fill in the Blanks

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

1.
_A1+B1
2.
=A1_B1
3.
=__+B1
4.
=A1+__
5.
=A2_B2
E

Spot the Error

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

Question 1
A A1: 5
B B1: 7
C C1: =A1+B1
D C1 shows: =A1+B1
Question 2
A C1: A1+B1
B A1: 4
C B1: 6
D C1 shows: 10
Question 3
A A1: 3
B B1: =A1x2
C B1 shows: 6
Question 4
A A1: 10
B B1: A1-4=
C B1 shows: 6
Question 5
A A1: 5
B B1: 6
C C1: =A1+B2
D C1 shows: 11

Answer Key

Formulas start with =
Section A: Quick Questions
Q1
A — =A1+B1
Q2
A — The equals sign =
Q3
B — 10
Q4
A — A cell where you typed 15
Q5
B — It updates to 15
Section B: Match the Pairs
Q1
=A1+B1 → A formula that adds the values in cells A1 and B1 and shows the total in the cell
Q2
=C2*D2 → A formula that multiplies the values in C2 and D2 and shows the answer in the cell
Q3
A formula starts with an equals sign so the spreadsheet calculates a result from cell values → =B3-B4
Q4
A typed value is just stored as it is. It does not calculate anything because it has no equals sign → 12
Q5
A1+B1 → The equals sign is missing at the start, so the spreadsheet does not calculate. It just shows the text A1+B1. Fix: =A1+B1
Q6
A1+B1= → The equals sign is at the end instead of the start. A formula must begin with =. Fix: =A1+B1
Section C: Definitions
Q1
=A1+B1 — A spreadsheet formula starts with = and works out a result from cell values. This one adds A1 and B1, and the answer shows in the cell.
Section D: Fill in the Blanks
Q1
=A1+B1
Q2
=A1+B1
Q3
=A1+B1
Q4
=A1+B1
Q5
=A2*B2
Section E: Spot the Error
Q1
D — The cell shows the result of the formula, not the formula itself. C1 should show 12, which is 5 + 7.
Q2
A — A formula must start with an equals sign. Without it the spreadsheet treats A1+B1 as plain text. It should be =A1+B1.
Q3
B — Spreadsheets use * to multiply, not the letter x. The formula should be =A1*2.
Q4
B — The equals sign goes at the start of a formula, not the end. It should be =A1-4.
Q5
C — The formula uses B2, which is empty, instead of B1. It should be =A1+B1 to give 11.