WORKPLACE BOSS CHALLENGES · ORIGINAL EXERCISE
The budget alarm
Return "Over budget" when total actual spend exceeds total planned spend, otherwise return "Within budget".
This quest practices Budget project using a fictional business dataset. Read the sheet below, then enter the interactive quest to write and check your formula.
| Category | Planned | Actual | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | 2400 | 2400 | Ops |
| Software | 900 | 1120 | IT |
| Marketing | 1800 | 2150 | Sales |
| Travel | 700 | 480 | Sales |
| Training | 600 | 450 | HR |
| Supplies | 350 | 410 | Ops |
Hints to get you started
- Compare total actual with total planned.
- Put the comparison inside IF.
- Use the requested labels exactly.
Show the worked solution
=IF(SUM(C2:C7)>SUM(B2:B7),"Over budget","Within budget")The label is derived from the complete budget rather than a single line item.
Make the skill stick
After solving the task, explain what each reference does and why the formula answers the business question. Try the workbook download inside the quest to practice in your own spreadsheet app.
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