Maintaining formula consistancy when copying formulas

[Nathan]

Hello,

I am creating a spreadsheet of aggregate spending data. I have several
categories, including total, housing, food, apparel, child care, etc. I have
a row of raw numbers and want to create a second row of %. For example, each
expenditure as a % of total expenditure. Let's say total=A1 and housing =A2.
In the % row, total =B1 and housing =B2. So, the basic formula I would use to
calculate expenditures as a % of total would be (A1/A1) for total and (B1/A1)
for housing.

However, when I copy the first formula into the adjacent cell, Excel makes
assumptions about what I'm doing and I end up with (B1/B1) instead of
(B1/A1). Is there a way to specify what I want here?

I could just use the raw number (B1/45000), except I know the values will
change as I continue with this project, so I just want to use an algorithm.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks much!
Nathan

 

[Sam Wilson]

=B1/$A$1

The dollars anchor the reference, pressing F4 as you enter it will cycle
through the options.

 

[Eduardo]

Hi,
try
(A1/$A$1)

if this helps please click yes, thanks

 

[Niek Otten]

=B1/$A$1

 

[Glenn]

Hello,

I am creating a spreadsheet of aggregate spending data. I have several
categories, including total, housing, food, apparel, child care, etc. I have
a row of raw numbers and want to create a second row of %. For example, each
expenditure as a % of total expenditure. Let's say total=A1 and housing =A2.
In the % row, total =B1 and housing =B2. So, the basic formula I would use to
calculate expenditures as a % of total would be (A1/A1) for total and (B1/A1)
for housing.

However, when I copy the first formula into the adjacent cell, Excel makes
assumptions about what I'm doing and I end up with (B1/B1) instead of
(B1/A1). Is there a way to specify what I want here?

I could just use the raw number (B1/45000), except I know the values will
change as I continue with this project, so I just want to use an algorithm.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks much!
Nathan

Look at "Switch between relative, absolute, and mixed references" in the help file.