Mixed cell references combine the concepts of absolute and relative references in Excel formulas. They allow you to lock either the row or column of a cell reference while the other part adjusts when copied or dragged across the sheet.

Here's how they work:

* Absolute Reference ($): When you add a dollar sign ($) before the column letter or row number in a cell reference, it becomes absolute. For example, $B$5 always refers to cell B5 regardless of where the formula is copied.
* Relative Reference: Without any dollar signs, the reference is relative. If you copy a formula with a relative reference (e.g., B5), it will adjust the row or column based on its new position. Copying `=B5` to C6 would change the formula to `=C6` (one column to the right).

Mixed Reference Creation:

* Absolute Column, Relative Row: Add a dollar sign ($) before the column letter to fix the column, while the row adjusts when copied. For example, `$B5` will always reference column B, but the row will change depending on where the formula is copied.
* Absolute Row, Relative Column: Add a dollar sign ($) before the row number to fix the row, while the column adjusts when copied. For example, `B$5` will always reference row 5, but the column will change depending on where the formula is copied.

Benefits of Using Mixed References:

* Maintain Consistency: Lets you reference specific cells (like tax rates or fixed values) that shouldn't change when the formula is copied.
* Reduce Errors: Prevents mistakes that can occur when manually adjusting formulas for different cell locations.
* Simplify Formula Writing: Makes it easier to create formulas that can be applied to multiple cells without needing to rewrite them for each instance.

Example:

Imagine you have a table with product names in column A, prices in column B, and a quantity sold in column C. You want to calculate total revenue (price multiplied by quantity) in column D.

Here's how you can use a mixed reference to achieve this:

In cell D2, enter the formula `=B2*$C2`. This formula multiplies the price in cell B2 by the quantity in cell C2.

When you copy this formula down to cell D3 (and beyond), the row reference for price will automatically adjust (B3, B4, etc.) due to the relative nature. However, the column reference for quantity remains fixed on column C due to the absolute column reference (`*$C2`). This ensures the formula calculates the revenue for each product using the corresponding price and quantity in the same row.

By understanding mixed cell references, you can create more flexible and adaptable formulas in your Excel spreadsheets.