What function can automatically return the value in the cell?

If you're figuring out how to return values using Excel or Google Sheets, here's a clear explanation of key functions like =INDIRECT, =INDEX, and VLOOKUP with examples. But if you need help with different formulas or functions, New Assignment Help USA can guide you further.

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Based on the software used for data manipulation the exact function can vary. The most commonly used software for this is Excel and Google Sheets. Direct, indirect, index, and vlookup are the common functions that you can use in this software to automatically return the value.

To understand it better, consider this table

1. =A1, Direct Reference

The simplest and yet the most efficient way to return the value of a cell at another point is to use direct referencing.

• Formula: =B3
• Result: 4

1. 2. =INDIRECT(“”), Dynamic Reference

Similar to the direct referencing but more dynamic. Here the reference is created using a text string. This allows you as the user to easily change the reference using the text value without requiring you to reference it all again.

For example

• Formula: =INDIRECT("B3")
• Result: 2 (returns the value in B3, which is the price of Banana)
• Explanation: Since "B3" is given as a text string, INDIRECT will return the value from that cell.

1. INDEX Function

The index function allows the user to fix a range for referencing. Hence when you as the user signify the row and column number, it will return the value from that exact term.

For example

• Formula: =INDEX(A1:C5, 3, 2)
• This will return the value “4”.

1. VLOOKUP Function

Lastly, the most important function that is used commonly, is the VLOOKUP function. Here the function will return the value from the specified range based on the matching value from the first column.

For example

• Formula: =VLOOKUP(‘Banana’, A1:C5, 3, FALSE)
• Result = 150

Here the specified range is the whole table. The reference is to use Banana and it's asking to return the value from the 3rd column. That term from the table is 150. We used the FALSE in the formula as we wanted a specific match for the reference “Banana”. In the case of range, the term TRUE could be used and it will look for an approximate value.