Fixed Columns or Rows in a Formula

In a formula, the symbol that specifies the fixed columns or rows is represented by the dollar sign ($). It is used to lock a specific column or row in a formula when copying or dragging it to other cells.

Explanation:

To understand the use of the dollar sign in a formula, let's consider an example. Suppose we have a table of sales data, where each row represents a different product and each column represents a different month. We want to calculate the total sales for each product by summing the values in each row.

Without using the dollar sign, if we write the formula "=SUM(A2:G2)" to calculate the total sales for the first product, and then copy or drag the formula to other cells, the formula will adjust the cell references accordingly. For example, when we copy the formula to the next row, it will become "=SUM(A3:G3)".

However, if we want to keep the column reference fixed in the formula while copying it to other cells, we can use the dollar sign. For example, if we want to keep the column reference as column A, we can modify the formula as "=SUM($A2:G2)". In this case, when we copy the formula to other cells, the column reference will remain fixed as column A, while the row reference will adjust accordingly.

Similarly, if we want to keep the row reference fixed in the formula while copying it to other cells, we can use the dollar sign before the row number. For example, if we want to keep the row reference as row 2, we can modify the formula as "=SUM(A$2:G2)". In this case, when we copy the formula to other cells, the row reference will remain fixed as row 2, while the column reference will adjust accordingly.

Summary:

In summary, the dollar sign in a formula ($A$2, $A2, A$2) specifies the fixed columns or rows. It allows us to lock a specific column or row in a formula when copying or dragging it to other cells. By using the dollar sign appropriately, we can ensure that the formula references the intended cells correctly and produces accurate results.