---
title: "Relative and absolute references"
course: "BUSN 115 · Excel for work"
unit: "Getting around a spreadsheet"
lesson: 4 of 20
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/excel-for-work/relative-and-absolute-references
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Relative and absolute references

Lesson 4 of 20 in **Excel for work** (BUSN 115), unit "Getting around a spreadsheet". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Explain why a formula changes when it is copied (relative references).
- Lock a cell reference with dollar signs, such as $B$1, when it must not change.
- Fix a copied formula that gives wrong results because of a missing absolute reference.

## Teaching notes
Classic example: a tax or commission rate in one cell applied to a whole column. Let the learner hit the error first, then fix it.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 4 complete: Relative and absolute references."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Challenge: build an expense sheet" (lesson 5 of 20), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/excel-for-work/challenge-build-an-expense-sheet.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Your first formulas
Next lesson: Challenge: build an expense sheet