To calculate gross pay, hours are multiplied by the hourly rate, where the hourly rate is stored in cell B1 and the hours in column B. Which MS Excel formula would you put in cell C4 so that you are able to copy that cell down to the rest of column C?
A=B1*$B$4
B=$B1*B4
C=B1*B4
D=$B$1*B4 ✓ Correct
Correct answer: (D) =$B$1*B4
Explanation
The correct formula is =$B$1*B4, multiplying the fixed hourly rate by that row's hours.
The rate stays in cell B1 for every row, so it needs an absolute reference $B$1.
The hours change with each row, so B4 must stay a relative reference that shifts on copy.
=B1*$B$4 wrongly fixes the hours cell and lets the rate move.
=$B1*B4 and =B1*B4 fail to lock the rate fully, so copying down breaks the calculation.
A dollar sign before a column or row reference freezes that part during copying.
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