What is the difference between relative and absolute cell references?

What is the difference between relative and absolute cell references?

• A. Relative uses dollar signs; absolute does not
• B. Relative stays fixed; absolute changes when copied
• C. Relative changes when copied; absolute ($B$2) stays fixed when copied.
• D. Relative references always refer to the same cell; absolute references refer to different cells when moved

Answer: (C)

When you copy a formula, you’re deciding if the reference moves with the formula or stays anchored to a single cell. A relative reference changes as you copy, so if you copy a formula one row down, a reference like B2 becomes B3; copy one column to the right and it becomes C2. This is why relative references naturally track the new location where the formula is pasted. An absolute reference uses dollar signs to lock the exact cell, like $B$2. No matter where you copy the formula, it will still point to B2. If you only lock the column or the row (for example, $B2 or B$2), then that part stays fixed while the other part can shift, which is useful when you want to keep one dimension constant but allow the other to adjust. So the best description is that relative references change when copied, while absolute references stay fixed when copied. This is why dollar signs signal anchoring, and plain references move with the formula.

When you copy a formula, you’re deciding if the reference moves with the formula or stays anchored to a single cell. A relative reference changes as you copy, so if you copy a formula one row down, a reference like B2 becomes B3; copy one column to the right and it becomes C2. This is why relative references naturally track the new location where the formula is pasted.

An absolute reference uses dollar signs to lock the exact cell, like $B$2. No matter where you copy the formula, it will still point to B2. If you only lock the column or the row (for example, $B2 or B$2), then that part stays fixed while the other part can shift, which is useful when you want to keep one dimension constant but allow the other to adjust.

So the best description is that relative references change when copied, while absolute references stay fixed when copied. This is why dollar signs signal anchoring, and plain references move with the formula.