Rows run horizontally and are numbered; columns run vertically and are labeled with letters. Their intersection is a cell. In this lesson you will use a tiny sample order to identify cell addresses, select ranges and enter a simple formula.
What you will learn
Locate a cell using its column letter and row number; use the name box to jump to B3 or a range; distinguish a cell address from its contents; select a rectangle; and enter a formula in D2 without replacing source data.
1. Open your practice spreadsheet
Open the Example tab in the practice workbook below, or download the editable XLSX file and import it into Google Sheets. If creating your own sheet, click A1 and paste the four-column table shown in the sample. The source Google workbook may require access; the XLSX download works independently.
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.
2. Recognize rows, columns and cell addresses
At the top of the grid, A, B, C and D identify columns. At the left, 1, 2, 3 and 4 identify rows. The intersection of column B and row 3 is B3: it contains the number 2, the quantity for Notebook. A1 is the Item header; C4 contains 12, the Folder unit price.
3. Select a cell and a range
Click B2 to select one cell. To select all three quantities, click the name box, type B2:B4 and press Enter (or drag from B2 to B4). The colon means a continuous range from the first address through the last. Now type A2:C4 in the name box and press Enter: this selects three columns by three rows, but excludes the header row. Type A1:D4 to select the complete table, including headers and line totals.
4. Write a formula using the cell addresses
Column B stores quantity and column C stores unit price. Click D2 (the Pen row under Line total), type =B2*C2 and press Enter. The asterisk means multiply, so 3 × 5 gives 15. A formula belongs in D2, not B2 or C2: do not overwrite the source numbers.
=B2*C25. Copy the calculation to the next rows
Click D2. Drag its small blue fill handle at the lower-right corner of the selected cell down through D4, or copy D2 and paste into D3:D4. Google Sheets adjusts relative references by row: D3 becomes =B3*C3 and displays 40; D4 becomes =B4*C4 and displays 12.
6. Check that calculations update
As a short test, change B2 from 3 to 4. D2 should change from 15 to 20 while D3 stays 40 and D4 stays 12. Restore B2 to 3 after testing; D2 should return to 15.
Expected final table
| Item | Qty | Unit price | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pen | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| Notebook | 2 | 20 | 40 |
| Folder | 1 | 12 | 12 |
D2:D4 are formula results copied down by row, not numbers typed manually.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
If the paste lands in one cell, undo, select A1 only and paste tab-separated data again. If a selection begins at the wrong row, use the name box and enter the exact range such as B2:B4. If a result is wrong, click the result cell and inspect its formula bar, then confirm that quantity and unit price are numeric values in the same row.
Independent practice
Without changing the original three rows, add Eraser to A5, set B5 to 2 and C5 to 4, then enter =B5*C5 in D5. Here B5 is the new quantity, * means multiply, and C5 is the new unit price, so 2 × 4 gives 8. Select A1:D5 to confirm the new data occupies five rows including the header.
Key takeaways
- ✓Rows are numbered and columns are lettered; B3 means column B, row 3.
- ✓The name box locates the selected cell or lets you select an exact range.
- ✓B2:B4 selects one column; A2:C4 selects a three-column rectangle.
- ✓Enter =B2*C2 in D2; copy down to use each row's quantity and price.
- ✓The verified results are 15, 40 and 12; changing B2 to 4 gives 20, then restore it to 3.
Check your understanding
Answer four questions about the practice sheet.
Continue learning
Previous lesson: Create your first spreadsheet. Next: Format numbers and currencies.