Spreadsheets

Contents 3. What is a Spreadsheet and What are they used for 4. Rows, Columns, Cells, Cell references 5. Simple formula (+,-, /, *) 6.Functions ( Sum, Max, Min, Average) 7.Replication - Relative and Absolute 8.IF Statements and their uses 9.Charting

What is a spreadsheet and what are they used for? A Spreadsheet Package is a General Purpose Package that is mostly used for calculations. A package of a spreadsheet looks like a sheet of paper, which is divided into vertical columns and horizontal rows. You can use a spreadsheet for all types of calculations involving numbers – from very simple calculations, like working out weekly takings from the schools tuck-shop, to the complete finances of a company.

Rows, Columns, Cells, Cell References Most spreadsheets will let you add an extra row or column to your document. Column Row Cell

Simple Formula (=, -, /, *) You can carry out calculations on a spreadsheet by entering formulas into the cells. A simple formula is: =A3+B9 =A3-B9 =A3/B9 =A3*B9

Functions(sum, max,min,average) Spreadsheets packages provide a variety of special functions. Functions are predefined formulas that perform calculations when supplied with the required data. Spreadsheet packages contain many different functions for a variety of applications, but the functions which you should know about for this course are: Sum, Average, Max, Min. =sum(A2:C4) =Average(A2:C4) =Max(A2:C2) =Min(A2:C4 )

Replication - relative and absolute Replication simply means copying. This is a particularly useful feature of a spreadsheet, especially for copying formulas from 1 cell to another. The spreadsheet ‘fill down’ command is one method of replication. Relative is when you copy down the formula and the cell reference changes. Absolute is when it doesn’t change.

IF Statements and their uses The if function is very powerful when you use it in a spreadsheet cell. It allows you to make choices, depending on the values placed in other cells. For example: =if(D5>C6,”pass”,”fail”)

By Julie and Ross