The spreadsheet is a powerful tool for doing the same task accurately many times and for doing mathematics. Rectangular boxes called cells are arranged in rows and columns and serve as storage places for information.

    On this page you are strongly encouraged to take notes with pencil & paper and using the computer.

    Your must be familiar with the Select/ copy/paste and with the concept of variable.

    On this page find:

• Computation
• Creating a Table of Values, a Column of Numbers
• Creating a Graph
• Select/Copy/Pasting a Table
• Vocabulary
• Reference List

    NOTE: No points have been marked on this page for BREAKs. Decide for yourself when to break.

    Excel® quickly and accurately completes computation.

To complete a simple computation where you enter all the numbers.

1st:   Go to the cell in which you wish to place the result.

2nd:   Type "=" to begin a formula.

=

3rd:   Type the expression for the computation you wish.

=3+4*5

4th:   Press the Enter key.

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To complete computation using contents of other cells.

1st:   Go to the cell in which you wish to place the result.

2nd:   Type "=" to begin a formula.

=

3rd:   Go to the cell containing the first part of the expression for the computation you wish.

3

4th:   Type the symbol for the operation.

+

5th:   Go to the cell containing the next part of the expression for the computation you wish.

4

6th:   Type the symbol for the operation.

*

7th:   Go to the cell containing the next part of the expression for the computation you wish.

5

8th:   Press the Enter key.

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    This method permits the user to create one column of numbers and to use Excel® to complete computation to create the other column(s).

a.) Enter a column of numbers, listed from smallest to largest, with the title "x" at the top of the column.

 

b.) Enter the title of the second column of numbers.

Ex. Shown is the opposite function, y = -x, as a column title.

    Do not enter the title as =-x because this would create a formula where one is not desired.

 

c.) The formula feature of the spreadsheet will create other values of the second column. In the cell just below the title, write the formula   =-A2, take the opposite of the value of the contents of cell A2. Then press ENTER.

 

d.) Go back to the last cell, containing =-A1, and press Ctrl+C to make a copy. The cell wall should shinner indicating the contents are selected.

 

e.) Move to the cell just below this one and press Ctrl+V to paste a copy of this formula in the cell. Repeat this process for each cell in this column or select as a block each of the remaining cells in the column and use Ctrl+V to paste to all at one time.

 

f.) Once each cell is filled, press ESC in the upper left corner of the keypoard to unselect the first cell.

 

    Excel® makes a graph, or scatter plot, very quickly using its Chart Wizard.

1st:Create a two or more column table of values.

Ex. Above three columns in a table with

x and y=-x and y=1/x as headings.

      Since two paired numbers are needed to identify a point for graphing, only two of the columns of the table are used -- one for the x values, one for the y values.

 

2nd: Begin selecting these column of numbers in the

following manner.

 

3rd: Select the entire first column of numbers but do not release.

 

4th: While selecting, press Ctrl.

 

5th: While pressing Ctrl, select the second column of numbers.

 

6th: Release so both columns are selected.

Ex. In the figure above, the x column and the y=1/x column have been selected.

 

7th: Press Chart Wizard.

 

8th: In step 1, choose to draw a Scatter-plot and press NEXT.

 

9th: In step 2, use the data aleady selected so just press NEXT.

 

10th: In step 3, type in the titles and axes labels, if you

wish, and press NEXT.

 

11th: In step 4, draw the chart/scatter-plot/graph "As an Object"

in the sheet on which you are working and press FINISH.

 

12th: Edit, reconsider, position and size as desired.

      The graph above is a terrible graph of the reciprocal function.

      The points are accurate but too few points to be representative of the function.

 

13th: Edit, reconsider, position and size as desired.

      Use x values including -1, 0, 1, less than -1,

between -1 and 0, between 0 and 1, greater than 1.

 

14th: Edit, reconsider, position and size as desired.

      Remove problem values.

Ex. In the graph below, when x is 0, Excel® is asked

      to divide by 0.

      Division by 0 is undefined so this row of the table

must be omitted or the point (0,0) will incorrectly be graphed.

 

15th: Edit, reconsider, position and size as desired.

      You might click on the white area of the chart,

delete it entirely, and start over.

 

16th: Edit, reconsider, position and size as desired.

      You might add labels and titles and grid by

clicking on then editing each area individually.

 

17th: Edit and experiment.

argument   (both)

array      (both)

cell        (Excel®)

    It looks like a rectangular box which holds data.

    It acts as a variable in math and is named by column then row: A4.

cell reference (program) - the variable-like name for the cell.

    Example: Cell A1 holds the constant 5.

    Example: Cell A2 holds the formula =2*A1 and displays the constant 10.

column (both)

    in Excel®, the column is named by a letter

    Example: B2 is the cell in row 2 column B

constant (math)

    In math, a number is either constant or variable.

    In Excel®, a value is either constant or formula.

constant value (program) - a nonformula value

    It does not begin with =

    It is not the result of a formula

    Example: 2, Monday, 5/7/99

    Not an Example: =2*B2

expression (both)

formula (math)

    In math an equation states the formula with

the expression on the left side naming the item coded by the expression on the right.

    Example: P = 2(l + w) -- Perimeter equals

    double the sum of the length and width.

formula (Excel®)

    In Excel® a formula is placed in the cell which names the expression on the right side of the equal sign.

    Example: =2*sum(C2:D2) is placed in cell E2.

    The value of cell E2 is double the sum of the contents of C2 and D2.

formula bar (Excel®)

    A text area in which the value of the active cell is displayed and may be edited.

functions (math)

function (Excel®)

    Excel® has a collection of functions named and built into the software.

    Example: ABS() is the absolute value function

    Other functions and relations are defined through formulas.

operate (both)

    v. to performs an operation or procedure.

operator (math)

    n. a thing which performs an operation or procedure.

operator (both)

    Here are symbols for the most basic operations.

Operation	Math Symbol	Excel® Symbol
addition	+	+
subtraction	-	-
multiplication	·	*
division	÷	/

range (math)

range (Excel®)

    The permitted argument or domain of the Excel® operators.

    Examples: Certain operators deal with lists or arrays or groups of cells. In this case they are said to operate on the range of a function. Listed below are some operators for ranges of functions.

Operator Name	Symbol	Sample Use Meaning of Sample
Range	: (colon)	SUM(B1:B4) Add the values in cells B1 through B4.
Union	, (comma)	SUM(B1,D1) Add the values in cells B1 and D1.
Intersection	(single space)	SUM(B1:B4 A4:D4) Add the values common to both (found in both) B1 through B4 and A4 through D4.

row (both)

syntax (both)

n. grammar: order of operations and arguments and formulas; the order or way in which something

must be written to achieve the desired result and conform to the requirements of the function.

    Example: =2*3+A5     isn't    =2*(3+A5)

    Example: =AVERAGE(A1:D1)

variable (both)

ALTERNATE between Notepad® and Lesson on Browser:

-- Press and continue to hold down [Alt]. Press [Tab] and press [Tab] again and again until the name of the program you wish to use is displayed. Release [Alt] and [Tab].

OPEN a Notepad® page:

-- [Start] then [Programs] then [Accesssories] then [Notepad].

NAME the workbook:

-- [Alt] + [F] then [A] then type what you wish to call the Notepad® page. OR

-- [File] then [Save As].