12.
Explanation
A cell address in a spreadsheet, such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, refers to the unique identifier of a cell, allowing you to locate and reference it. Cell addresses are typically represented by a combination of a letter (column) and a number (row). For example, "A1" represents the cell in the first column and the first row.
Relative Cell Address:
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A relative cell address in a formula is written in a way that it's adjusted when you copy or fill the formula to other cells.
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If you copy a formula with a relative cell reference, the reference will change based on the relative position of the new cell compared to the original cell.
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Relative cell references are indicated by column and row labels (e.g., A1) without any special symbols.
Example of Relative Cell Address: Suppose you have a formula in cell B2 that adds the values from cells A1 and A2: =A1 + A2
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If you copy this formula to cell B3, it will automatically adjust to become =A2 + A3, as the relative references shift one row down.
Absolute Cell Address:
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An absolute cell address is written in a way that prevents the reference from changing when you copy or fill the formula to other cells.
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Absolute cell references are indicated by symbols, typically the dollar sign ($), placed in front of both the column and row labels (e.g., $A$1) to lock the reference.
Example of Absolute Cell Address: Suppose you have a formula in cell B2 that multiplies a value from cell A1 by a fixed value in cell C1: =A1 * $C$1
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If you copy this formula to cell B3, the absolute reference to cell C1 will remain unchanged, making it =A2 * $C$1. This means the C1 reference does not shift, maintaining the same value in all instances.
Mixed Cell Address:
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A mixed cell address is a combination of relative and absolute references, where either the column or the row is locked while the other can change.
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Mixed cell references are indicated by the dollar sign ($) in front of either the column or row label but not both (e.g., $A1 or A$1).
Example of Mixed Cell Address: Suppose you have a formula in cell B2 that adds the value from cell A1 to the sum of values in row 3: =A1 + $C3
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If you copy this formula to cell B3, the $C3 reference will remain fixed, but the A1 reference will change to become =A2 + $C3.
In summary, relative cell addresses adjust as you copy or fill a formula, absolute cell addresses remain fixed, and mixed cell addresses allow for a mix of fixed and relative references. These different types of cell references are important when working with complex spreadsheets and calculations.