What you will build
Complete “Create named ranges” using the visible Item, Amount sample so each action and the final state can be checked against the source data.
Learning objectives
Open the practice workbook
Practice in your own copy
Make your own Google Sheets copy with the same data, formulas, formatting, filter and frozen header. The original remains unchanged.
Sign in to Google. If the original is not publicly shared, download the full workbook and import it into Google Sheets, or paste the example data into your own sheet.
Hands-on practice
Step 1: Confirm A1:B4 contains Item and Amount with Pen 15, Notebook 40, and Folder 12, then select B2:B4 only.
Step 2: Open Data > Named ranges. In the sidebar, replace the default name with Amounts, confirm the range is Example!B2:B4, then click Done.
Step 3: Confirm the Named ranges sidebar lists Amounts and Example!B2:B4.
Step 4: Click D2 and enter =SUM(Amounts). Verify D2 returns 67.
=SUM(Amounts)Step 5: Change B2 from 15 to 20 and verify D2 recalculates to 72, then restore B2 to 15 and verify D2 returns to 67.
Checkpoint
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pen | 15 |
| Notebook | 40 |
| Folder | 12 |
Checkpoint for “Create named ranges”: keep the Item, Amount source records intact after the lesson action; the named-range total should evaluate to 67 in the formula result cell.
Common mistakes and fixes
After editing the range, select Amounts again in the Named ranges sidebar and verify it highlights only B2:B4 before re-checking D2.
Independent practice
For an extra check, add Eraser and 8 in A5:B5, edit Amounts to Example!B2:B5, and verify =SUM(Amounts) becomes 75. Then delete row 5, restore Amounts to Example!B2:B4, and confirm D2 returns to 67.
Key takeaways
- ✓Select only B2:B4 before creating the range.
- ✓Use Data > Named ranges.
- ✓Name the range Amounts and verify it points to Example!B2:B4.
- ✓Use =SUM(Amounts) and verify the initial result is 67.
- ✓Test B2 = 20 to get 72, then restore B2 = 15 and D2 = 67.
Check your understanding
Answer four questions about the practice sheet.
Next lesson
Continue in recommended learning order with Use relative absolute and mixed references.