The following information, quizes, activities, and games are intended to enhance your understanding of Microsoft Excel. This information is intended to be introductory, and to be used with our text, "Microsoft Office 97 Professional" chapter 7.
Objectives: At the end of the lesson the student will be able to create and edit simple spreadsheets, create formulas, and use the SUM and AVERAGE functions.
Spreadsheet Terminology: Spreadsheet files are called Workbooks. The Excel window consists of columns and rows of information. Columns are identified by a letters at the top of the window, while rows are identified by numbers at the left edge. A cell is where a row and colum intersect. A solid border appears around the cell curser. Data can only be entered into the cell where the cell cursor is located. The contents of each cell are displayed on the Entry bar. This Entry Bar is located at the top of the cell window.
Do Activity 1.
Types of Data: Spreadsheets store three types of data in each cell. These types are labels, values and times/dates. Values are used in calculations. Each of these typrs may be formatted using the format option on the menu bar. By default values and times/dates are right alligned and labels are left alligned.
Entering data into the Spreadsheet: Data is entered into each cell by selecting the desired cell and entering data from the keyboard. When data is typed it appears in both the Entry Bar and the cell. Clicking the Enter Button on the Entry Bar enters the data an leaves the cursor on the selected cell.
* Pressing the Enter key enters the data then selects the next cell in the column.
* Pressing the Tab key enters the data then selects the next cell in the row.
* Pressing the arrow key enters the data then selects the next cell in the direction of the arrow key.
* Pressing the Escape key cancels the data entry and restores the cells original content.
Do Quiz 1:
Using Formulas to Perform Calculations: A primary benefit of using a spreadsheet is its ability to do calculations using formulas. Formulas are mathematical statements. Entering the formula =25*3 will result in the value of 75 being displayed. Every formula must begin with =. The following operators can be used in formulas.
Exponentiation ^
Multiplication *
Division /
Addition +
Subtraction -
When Excel evaluates a formula it follows a set order of operations which indicate which operators have priority.
Excel evaluates formulas from left to right if the formula contains equal priority of operators. The following order of operations is used to evaluate a formula.
Any number raised to a power is calculated first.
=4+3^2 produces the value of 13
Calculations involving multiplication and division
are performed next.
=3+5*6/2 produces the value of 18
Third in the order of operations is addition and
subtraction.
=7+4*2 produces the value of 15
When a formula contains parentheses the operations
within them are performed first.
=(7+4)*2 produces the value of 22
Entering an invalid formula in a cell causes Excel to display an error message.
Do Activity 2
Using Cell Names in Formulas: A cell name may also be used in a formula. For example if cwll B3 stores the value 20 and C2 stores a 50:
=B3/C2 results in .4
=B3-C2 results in -30
A formula can not contain a reference to the cell where it's contained. This will cuase a circular error. Formulas are commonly used to sum values. To sum the values stored in C1 thru C6 the formula =C1+C2+C3+C4+C5+C6 could be used. Averages can also be obtained. =(C1+C2+C30/3 will average the values contained in C1 thru C6.
Using Functions to perform Calculations: Excel contains many built in functions which can be used as part of a formula. A function performs a calculation based on a set of entering arguements. For example, to add the values in cells A3, B5, and C7 we could use =SUM(A3,B5,C7). When the cells of the arguement are adjacent to each other a range of cells may be used. To average the values contained in cells A3,A4,A5,B3,B4, and B5 the function =AVERAGE(A3:B5) could be used. All of the functions Excel contains are in the Tool bar under fx.
Do Activity 3
Take Final Exam
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