Common Spreadsheet Errors and How to Resolve Them

Spreadsheets are powerful tools for organizing and analyzing data, but errors can arise due to incorrect formulas, missing data, or formatting issues. Below are some common spreadsheet errors and how to fix them:

1. #VALUE! Error

• Cause: Incorrect data type (e.g., text in a numeric formula).

• Solution: Ensure all referenced cells contain the correct data type.

2. #DIV/0! Error

• Cause: Division by zero or an empty cell.

• Solution: Use IFERROR(A1/B1, "") to prevent this error.

3. #REF! Error

• Cause: A referenced cell has been deleted.

• Solution: Restore the missing cell or update the formula.

4. #NAME? Error

• Cause: Misspelled function or named range.

• Solution: Check for typos in formula names.

5. #N/A Error

• Cause: Lookup formulas (e.g., VLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH) cannot find a match.

• Solution: Ensure lookup values exist in the referenced range.

Using INDEX-MATCH in Google Sheets

The INDEX-MATCH combination is a more flexible alternative to VLOOKUP for searching data in spreadsheets.

Syntax:

\=INDEX(return_range, MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0))

• INDEX(return_range): Specifies the column from which to return data.

• MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0): Finds the position of the lookup value.

Example:

Suppose you have a table where column A contains product names, and column B contains prices. To find the price of "Laptop":

\=INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH("Laptop", A2:A10, 0))