Spreadsheets
Examples of Spreadsheet Programs
-
Excel
-
Quattro Pro
-
AppleWorks (Clarisworks) Spreadsheet
-
MS Works Spreadsheet
-
Lotus 1-2-3
General Spreadsheet Information
Spreadsheet programs are used to assist the user
with
calculations. They are especially useful for making budgets and keeping
grades. A spreadsheet looks like this (normal display and "show
formulas"
views):
"Normal" Display
"Show Formulas"
The normal display in a spreadsheet shows the
results
of calculations (sums, averages, etc.). The "show formulas" display
shows
the way in which the spreadsheet is instructed to perform calculations.
Each cell (box) in the spreadsheet has a unique
name,
made of the column letter and row name. For example, the word Averages
is in cell A9. A cell can contain one of four types of data:
-
label--Any word, name, or number not used in
a calculation
is a label. All data in column A and row 1 are labels.
-
number/value--A number or value is data that
will
be used in a calculation. The test scores in cells C3..F6 are numbers
(also
called values).
-
formula--One way to do calculations. A
formula mentions
all cells involved. For example, the value in E12 was created with the
formula = C12 + 2*D12 (the value in cell C12 + twice the value
in
cell D12). In formulas, these symbols are used: + (addition), -
(subtraction),
* (multiplication), / (division).
-
function--Another way to do calculations.
Shortcuts
for common calculations are represented by words and ranges of cells.
For
example, =SUM(C3..F3) is the function in cell G3. It is the sum
of cells from C3 to F3 (the range), including C3 and F3. Cell D9
contains
the function =AVERAGE(D3..D6) which calculates the average of
cells
D3 through D6.
Labels can be aligned to the right, left, or center
within
a cell (use Format menu). Number/values, and the results of formulas
and
functions can be displayed in several formats (fixed, percent,
currency)
by choosing Number from the Format menu.
Formulas and Functions
As stated above, formulas are cell names
connected
with calculation symbols (+ - * /). Parentheses may be used (as in any
mathematical statement) to show order of operations. Functions
use
commands such as SUM or AVERAGE to perform a calculation.
The calculations in the table below are based on
this
spreadsheet:
|
Formula/Function
|
(alternate form)
|
Result |
| =A1 + B1 |
|
158 (from 35 + 123) |
| =A4 * C4 |
|
135 (from 45 x 3) |
| =B4 / C4 |
|
257 (from 771 divided by 3) |
| =SUM(A1..A3) |
=SUM(A1:A3) |
94 (from 35 + 47 + 12) |
| =SUM(A5..C5) |
=SUM(A5:C5) |
284 (from 44 + 234 + 6) |
| =AVG(C1..C8) |
=AVERAGE(C1:C8) |
3.5 (average of cells C1 through C8) |
| =MAX(B1..B8) |
=MAX(B1:B8) |
771 (largest number in cells B1 through B8) |
| =MIN(A1..A8) |
=MIN(A1:A8) |
12 (smallest number in cells A1 through A8) |
Page created for TBE 550 students by Farah Fisher.
Comments?
Disclaimer
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550
Index Page | Syllabus |
