The difference between absolute reference and relative reference of functions in EXCEL

The difference between absolute reference and relative reference of functions in EXCEL

The so-called absolute references and relative references are for cells. For example, $A$1 is an absolute reference and A1 is a relative reference ($A1 and A$1 are mixed references)

Assume A1=1,A2=2,A3=3,....

If you enter the formula =$A$1*2 in b1, and then drag it down to fill, the formula in each cell in column B is =$A$1*2, and its values ​​are B1=2, B2 respectively. =2,B3=2,......

If you enter the formula =A1*2 in b1, and then drag down to fill, the formulas in the cells in column B are (B1)=A1*2, (B2)=A2*2, (B3)= A3*2,...their values ​​are B1=2,B2=4,B3=6,...

Do you understand this clearly? For a formula that absolutely references a cell, the referenced cell will remain unchanged no matter where the formula is copied; for a formula that refers to a relative cell, the referenced cell will change depending on where the formula is copied.

How to achieve relative reference to rows when copying cells in Excel tables and absolute reference to rows when pulling down

1. The cell address can be written as $B1

2. Whoever $ precedes will definitely be quoted

A1 is a relative reference

$A1 absolute reference column is a mixed reference

A$1 absolute reference line is a mixed reference

$A$1 absolute reference row and column are absolute references

F4 is a shortcut key for switching between four types of references (press the F4 function key when entering a formula in the edit bar to switch)

three,

A1 (relative reference) will become references A2, A3, A4... when you pull down and drag the reference. When you drag it to the right, the reference will become B1, C1, D1....;

A$1 (Mixed Reference) When you want to ensure that only cell A1 is referenced when you pull down and copy, A1 must add a $ sign to become A$1, so that you can ensure a relative reference to the first row of column A when you pull down. (That is, keeping the line number unchanged when referencing);

$A1 (Mixed Reference) When you pull right to copy and want to ensure that only the A1 cell is referenced, A1 must add the $ symbol to become $A1, so that when you pull right to copy, you can ensure that the first row of column A is referenced. Relative reference (that is, keeping the column label unchanged when referencing);

$A$1 (absolute reference) When you want to ensure that only the A1 cell is referenced when copying in pull-down and right pull-down, A1 must add the $ symbol to become $A$1, so that it can be guaranteed in pull-down and right pull-down. An absolute reference to the first row of column A (that is, keeping the row number column label unchanged during the reference).

When to use relative references and absolute references in Excel functions

For example, the ranking function RANK.

If you want to get the ranking of column B data and only calculate cell B2, you can enter =RANK(B2,B2:B18) in cell C2, and the result is correct

B2 here is a relative reference cell, and B2:B18 is a relative reference area.

But if you copy the ranking formula of cell C2 downward, the result will be wrong,

Because in cell C3, the formula becomes =RANK(B3,B3:B19);

In cell C4, the formula becomes =RANK(B4,B4:B20);

Obviously, the relative reference of the previous cell is correct, but the later reference area has been changing, causing errors in the ranking results.

Therefore, when filling downwards, the subsequent reference area should be modified to an absolute reference or a relative-absolute mixed reference to ensure that the reference area will not change with copying or filling

The formula in cell C2 becomes

=RANK(B2,$B$2:$B$18)

or=RANK(B2,B$2:B$18)

I hope this example can help you improve your understanding of relative references and absolute references.

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