Create a Multiplication Table

November 25, 2021 - by Bill Jelen

Problem: I want to create a multiplication table to help my kids in school. I want to be able to enter a single formula in cell B2 that I can copy to the entire table.

The numbers 1 to 12 appear from A2 down to A13. The same numbers appear from B1 across to M1. With the cell pointer in B2, create a formula that can be copied to 144 cells to create a multiplication table. — Figure 179. Need a formula to point to row 1 and column 1.

Strategy: In “Copy a Formula While Keeping One Reference Fixed,” you learned how to use an absolute reference, such as $C$1, so that Excel would not change from column C or row 1 as it copied the formula. To create a multiplication table, you need to use a mixed reference. A mixed reference, such as $A2, will lock the formula to column A while allowing the row to change. A mixed reference, such as B$1, will lock the row to row 1 while allowing the column to change.

The formula you need for the multiplication table is a formula that will multiply whatever is in row 1 above the cell by whatever is in column A to the left of the cell.

To have a reference that always points to row 1, you use something in the format of B$1. To have a reference that points to column A, you use a reference in the format of $A2.

1. Enter the formula =$A2*B$1 in B2.

The first formula is =$A2*B$1. The single dollar sign before $A2 says that you want the current row but always column A. The single $ before the 1 in B$1 says you want the current column but always row 1. — Figure 180. Multiply column A by row 1.

2. Copy the formula in B2 to the entire range.

Result: Excel will always properly multiply column A by row 1.

Copy the first formula from B2 to B2:M13 and you have a multiplication table. The formula in M13 is doing =12*12 for 144. That formula is =$A13*M$1. — Figure 181. =$A13*M$1 creates the multiplication table.

This article is an excerpt from Power Excel With MrExcel

Title photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash