Relative and absolute cell referencing techniques

Question

Explain relative and absolute cell referencing techniques with help of sample data.

Answer 1

With relative cell addressing, whenever you copy formula from one area of worksheet to the other, Excel monitors the position of cell relative to cell which originally having the formula. This is regarded as default mode of referencing in the spreadsheet. On the other hand, absolute referencing states that coordinate of the cell are not altered whenever the formula is copied from one cell to the other. In order to form the cell address as the absolute cell address, keeps the dollar sign at the front of both the column and row identifiers.

For instance, suppose the formula =A1+B1 is copied from the cell C1 to the cell C3, then it automatically changes to =A3+B3. But in case the formula =$A$1+$B$1 is copied from the cell C1 to cell C3, and then it stays unchanged. The dollar sign locks cell location to the fixed position. Thus, whenever it is copied and pasted it stays exactly same.