1. What is Microsoft Excel
A spreadsheet application used for organizing, analyzing, and visualizing data. It supports formulas, charts, pivot tables, and automation.
2. What is the difference between a workbook and a worksheet
• Workbook: The entire Excel file
• Worksheet: Individual tabs/sheets within the workbook
3. What is a cell in Excel
The intersection of a row and column. Each cell has a unique address (e.g., A1) and can hold text, numbers, or formulas.
4. How do you merge cells in Excel
Select cells → Click “Merge & Center” on the Home tab. Useful for headings or formatting.
5. What is the difference between absolute and relative cell referencing
• Absolute ($A$1): Fixed reference
• Relative (A1): Adjusts when copied to other cells
6. What is a pivot table
A dynamic summary table that allows grouping, filtering, and aggregating large datasets easily.
7. How do you remove duplicates in Excel
Select data → Go to Data tab → Click “Remove Duplicates” → Choose columns to check
8. What is the use of VLOOKUP
Searches for a value in the first column of a range and returns a value in the same row from another column
Example:
=VLOOKUP(101, A2:D10, 2, FALSE)9. What is the difference between VLOOKUP and INDEX-MATCH
• VLOOKUP: Less flexible, only searches left to right
• INDEX-MATCH: More powerful, can search in any direction
10. What is conditional formatting
Automatically changes cell appearance based on rules (e.g., highlight values> 1000)
11. What is the IF function in Excel
Used for logical comparisons
Example:
=IF(A1>100, "High", "Low")12. What is the difference between COUNT, COUNTA, and COUNTIF
• COUNT: Counts numeric cells
• COUNTA: Counts non-empty cells
• COUNTIF: Counts cells that meet a condition
13. How do you protect a worksheet
Go to Review tab → Click “Protect Sheet” → Set password and choose permissions
14. What is the use of the CONCATENATE or CONCAT function
Joins multiple strings into one
Example:
=CONCAT(A1, " ", B1)15. What is the difference between charts and sparklines
• Charts: Full visual graphs
• Sparklines: Mini charts inside a cell
16. What is data validation in Excel
Restricts the type of data entered in a cell (e.g., dropdown list, number range)
17. How do you use the TEXT function
Formats numbers or dates as text
Example:
=TEXT(TODAY(), "dd-mm-yyyy")18. What is the use of the TODAY and NOW functions
• TODAY(): Returns current date
• NOW(): Returns current date and time
19. What is the difference between FILTER and SORT
• FILTER: Displays rows that meet criteria
• SORT: Rearranges rows based on column values
20. How do you use Excel for basic data analysis
• Use formulas (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNTIF)
• Apply filters and pivot tables
• Create charts and conditional formatting
• Use functions like IF, INDEX-MATCH, and TEXT
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