Introduction to Spreadsheets
Microsoft Excel
A program which allows you to perform
complex mathematical operations in an
organized manner.
What is a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet is a grid of rows and
columns containing numbers and text.
Terms you need to know
Rows Labels
Columns Numeric Labels
Range Values
Cells Mathematical
Active Cell Operators
Cell Address Orders of Operation
Workbook Equation Formula
Worksheet Function Formula
Some Terms
Workbook Worksheet
- An excel file that - One page in an
contains single or Excel workbook
multiple
worksheets.
Rows vs. Columns
Rows Columns
-Identified by 1,2,3, -Identified by A,B,C
etc. and goes across and goes across the
the spreadsheet spreadsheet
horizontally vertically.
The Size of the Spreadsheet
Number of Rows
- 65536
Number of Columns
- 256
Cell
This is where a row and column meet. Each
cell has a cell location. Examples of this are
A1, C5, Z34.
Label-alphanumeric data that describes the
values that follow and cannot be used in a
calculation.
Value-Numeric data that can be used in
calculations.
Range-A rectangular group of adjacent cells.
Columns
R
O Active Cell
W
s Range
Range
Cell Address Edit Cell
Label
Numeric
Label
Numeric Label
Label Value
Mathematical Operators
Addition +
Subtraction – +X
Multiplication * -
Division /
Orders of Operation
1. Parenthesis
2. Exponents
3. Multiplication
4. Division
5. Addition
6. Subtraction
Two Types of Formulas
A formula in an instruction to calculate
a number.
All formulas begin with an equal sign =
Equation Formulas
Use mathematical operators
Function Formulas
Use function names (no math operators)
Equation Formulas
To add To multiply
= cell+cell+cell =cell*cell
To subtract To divide
=cell-cell = cell/cell
Or any combination of math A1 = 10
operators:
B3 = 2
Example = A1*10
B7= 5
Example = (A1+B3)*B7+10
Function Formulas
= function name (cell:cell)
Function Names
SUM – adds a range of cells
AVERAGE – finds the average of a range of cells
MIN – lowest value in a range
MAX – highest value in a range
COUNT – number of cells filled with a value
COUNTA number of cells filled with a label
Function Formulas
The first step to using formulas is to think about what
mathematical operation you want to accomplish. It
helps sometimes to write the math problem on paper
first.
Next click on the cell where you want the answer to
the formula to appear.
Choose the formula you want from the drop down
menu next to the SUM icon.
Select the cells you want to include in the operation.
If EXCEL guesses the cells for you, MAKE SURE TO
VERIFY THAT THOSE ARE THE CELLS YOU WANT!
EXCEL IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT!!
Formulas and Functions
Formulas always begin with the “=“
sign. This symbol tells Excel that a
calculation is required. Formulas
do not include spaces, and can
include values and/or references to
other cells.
Formulas
To Add: =cell+cell+cell or =sum(Range)
To Subtract: =cell-cell
To Multiply: =cell*cell
To Divide: =cell/cell
To Average: =average(range)
Lowest #: =min(range)
Highest#: =max(range)
Count#s: =count(range)
Count Labels: =counta(range)
Conditional Statement: =if(condition, then x, else y)
Checklist (for each spreadsheet)
Headings Centered Over Columns
Title Centered over the Spreadsheet
Correct Formulas
Decimals aligned in numeric columns
Commas and Dollar Signs where appropriate
Centered Vertically and Horizontally on page
Name, Period, and Name of Spreadsheet in
the Header
