How to Divide One Column by Another in Google Sheets
Divide matching rows and flag zero-unit inputs for review.
Download practice data · CSVStart the exerciseWatch the tutorial
Watch on YouTube · ShortTry it yourself
Import at A1. Put the formula in D2 and leave D3:D6 empty. Expect 100, 120, Check units, 100, 200. Set B4 to 2: D4 becomes 200. Blank denominators may also trigger the zero check; other errors are not handled.
=ARRAYFORMULA(IF(B2:B6=0,"Check units",A2:A6/B2:B6))Detailed steps
- 1. Start with one row
Column A contains fictional revenue and column B contains units. For the first row, one thousand divided by ten equals one hundred. The basic formula is A two divided by B two.
- 2. Keep the output area empty
Click D two. Leave D three through D six empty so the array can expand. The source ranges must have the same number of rows.
- 3. Add the array and zero check
Use ARRAYFORMULA around IF. If units equal zero, show Check units. Otherwise divide A two through A six by B two through B six. The division happens row by row.
- 4. Review the five outputs
The results are one hundred, one hundred twenty, Check units, one hundred, and two hundred. The zero-unit row remains visible for review instead of being silently treated as zero revenue per unit.
- Keep inputs consistent
Keep both inputs numeric, extend both ranges together, and leave the output cells empty. A blank unit count may also trigger the zero check. Would you use this for prices, speed, or productivity?
Preview the input data
| Revenue | Units |
|---|---|
| 1000 | 10 |
| 600 | 5 |
| 400 | 0 |
| 300 | 3 |
| 800 | 4 |
How to open the CSV
In a blank Google Sheet choose File → Import → Upload and select the downloaded CSV. Use comma as the separator. Start at A1 unless the exercise specifies another location. CSV contains input data; add formulas and controls using the steps above. Files are hosted directly here and require no shared personal Drive document.
Fictional demo data. Formulas use English function names and commas between arguments. Other spreadsheet locales may require semicolons. Check date recognition after importing.