How to Get First Day of Week in Google Sheets?

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How to Get First Day of Week in Google Sheets?

Do you still determine the first day of the week in your Google Sheets documents manually? Luckily, there’s a straightforward solution that doesn’t require complex functions or scripts. By harnessing the power of the MOD() formula, you can effortlessly calculate the first day of the week with precision and ease. In this article, we’ll explore how to utilize the MOD() formula to streamline your workflow and enhance your productivity in Google Sheets.

Check out our YouTube Shorts tutorial about it.

Understanding the MOD() Formula Before diving into its application, let’s briefly understand what the MOD() formula does. The MOD() function in Google Sheets returns the remainder of a division operation. It takes two arguments: the dividend and the divisor.

The syntax for the MOD() function is as follows:

=MOD(dividend, divisor)

Now that we have a basic understanding of the MOD() formula, let’s see how we can leverage it to calculate the first day of the week in Google Sheets.

Calculating the First Day of the Week To determine the first day of the week using the MOD() formula, we’ll start with a given date and then subtract the number of days that have elapsed since the beginning of the week. Since Sunday is typically considered the first day of the week in many cultures, we’ll adjust our calculation accordingly.

Step by step explanation

  1. Select a Cell: Choose an empty cell where you want the first day of the week to appear.
  2. Enter the Formula: In the selected cell, enter the following formula:scssCopy code=A1 - MOD(WEEKDAY(A1) - 1, 7) Replace “A1” with the cell reference containing the date for which you want to find the first day of the week.
  3. Press Enter: After entering the formula, press the Enter key to apply it. The selected cell will now display the first day of the week based on the provided date.

Understanding the Formula Breakdown Let’s break down the components of the formula to understand how it works:

  • WEEKDAY(A1): This function returns the day of the week corresponding to the specified date, with Sunday being represented as 1 and Saturday as 7.
  • MOD(WEEKDAY(A1) – 1, 7): Here, we subtract 1 from the result of the WEEKDAY() function to align Sunday with 0 and Saturday with 6. We then use the MOD() function to ensure that the result falls within the range of 0 to 6.
  • A1 – MOD(WEEKDAY(A1) – 1, 7): Finally, we subtract the result obtained from the MOD() function from the original date (A1) to find the first day of the week.

In conclusion, by employing the MOD() formula in Google Sheets, you can efficiently calculate the first day of the week without the need for complex functions or scripts. Incorporate this technique into your Sheets workflow to streamline your tasks and boost your productivity. Mastering Google Sheets is all about leveraging its built-in features to simplify your processes and achieve your goals.