Spreadsheet Basics

In Excel use the following signs for calculations

* for multiplication

= for the start of every formula

$for ABSOLUTE cell addressing

This function allows you to sort data, for example, put names in alphabetical order or put numbers in order from highest to lowest.

Place cursor in a cell in the column you wish to sort.

Select Data on the menu bar, then sort.Indicate whether you want to sort in ascending (low to high, A to Z) or descending order (high to low, Z to A).

This option allows you to freeze the screen so that data at the left and/or the top of the spreadsheet does not scroll off the screen when you are working on data far to the right or down the page.

Place the cursor in the cell immediately inside the row and column headings you have used.

Select Windows on the menu bar, then click “freeze panes”.

To turn off this option, go back to the menu bar, select Windows and click “unfreeze panes”.

Start all formulas with the equal sign

Refer to/click on the cell in which a number appears and insert that cell reference into a formula.In most cases do NOT type in the actual number that appears in a cell.

Follow rules of algebra when writing formulas.For example, if you need to divide age by 2 and then multiply that answer by weight, you must enclose the age divided by 2 calculation in parentheses, then type in the remainder of the formula.

Enter a formula in a cell and see that the formula is correct, you may simply copy that formula down or across the page to the other parts of the spreadsheet.

Click on the cell with the formula.Move the cursor to the lower right corner of that cell, until the cursor changes to a +

Hold the left mouse botton down and drag the cursor across the remaining cells where you want to copy the formula.Let go of the mouse.

Note that Excel copies the formula and also adjusts the formula such that it picks up the appropriate row or column of numbers for the calculation.This “adjusting” is called relative cell addressing.Example – In cell F3 you enter this formula=A3*C3and then copy it down from row 3 to row 12.The formula in row 4 will automatically be =A4*C4, in row 5 will be A5*C5, etc.

Use this option when you want to use a constant number in a formula that you are copying from an original location to other locations.

For example, imagine you want to multiple all the data in column R by the data in cell A7.You would write the formula as =R1*$A$7, and copy that formula to all cells where appropriate.In this way, the formula in row 2 would read = R2*$A$7, in row 3 would read R3*$A$7, and so on.

1.Software	Microsoft Excel is one program that allows the user to do calculations, manipulate and chart/graph data.
2.Rows/columns	The format of an Excel file is such that there are ROWS (horizontal; numbered 1-2-3 and so on) and COLUMNS (vertical; lettered A-B-C and so on).
3.Cells	The juncture of a row and column is called a cell.You place data in cells (such as B7 or D44).
4.Range	The name you give the location of a group or series of data is a range.For example, all the data from cell B7 to cell B25 would be called a range; it would be written B7:B25. The colon between cell names indicates that you are referring to a range of data.
5. Series	A series is comparable to a range. For example, you might highlight the data ranges of B7:B25 and D7:D25 and then use the chart wizard to create a bar chart for that data. Excel will refer to B7:B25 as Series 1 and D7:D25 as Series 2.
6. (Sigma)	Greek letter for sum or total; located on menu bar. First place cursor in cell where you want a sum to be placed.Then click on ?, look to see if the range of numbers outlined is what you want.If not, click and drag cursor over range you want to be summed, then press enter.
7.f_x(function)	Function key, located on menu bar. Place cursor in cell where you want the answer to be placed.Click on f_x, select the function you want to use (such as average or standard deviation), then review the dialog box that appears.You can left click the mouse once anywhere on the dialog box, hold down on the mouse, and drag/move the dialog box so that you can view the spreadsheet numbers.If the range/s outlines are not what you want, simply click and drag the mouse across the appropriate cells.Click OK on dialog box to get Excel to run the calculation and list the answer.
8. %	To calculate a percentage, divide the “is number” by the “of number”.For example let’s say you attempted 50 free throw shots, and made 25—said another way, 25 is what % of 50?To determine the percent of shots made, divide 25 (the “is” number) by 50 (the “of” number).
9.Math signs	In Excel use the following signs for calculations + for addition - for subtraction * for multiplication / for division = for the start of every formula $for ABSOLUTE cell addressing
10.Sorting	This function allows you to sort data, for example, put names in alphabetical order or put numbers in order from highest to lowest. Place cursor in a cell in the column you wish to sort. Select Data on the menu bar, then sort.Indicate whether you want to sort in ascending (low to high, A to Z) or descending order (high to low, Z to A).
11.Freeze panes	This option allows you to freeze the screen so that data at the left and/or the top of the spreadsheet does not scroll off the screen when you are working on data far to the right or down the page. Place the cursor in the cell immediately inside the row and column headings you have used. Select Windows on the menu bar, then click “freeze panes”. To turn off this option, go back to the menu bar, select Windows and click “unfreeze panes”.
12.Formulas	Start all formulas with the equal sign Refer to/click on the cell in which a number appears and insert that cell reference into a formula.In most cases do NOT type in the actual number that appears in a cell. Follow rules of algebra when writing formulas.For example, if you need to divide age by 2 and then multiply that answer by weight, you must enclose the age divided by 2 calculation in parentheses, then type in the remainder of the formula.
13.Copy a formula / Relative cell addressing	Enter a formula in a cell and see that the formula is correct, you may simply copy that formula down or across the page to the other parts of the spreadsheet. Click on the cell with the formula.Move the cursor to the lower right corner of that cell, until the cursor changes to a + Hold the left mouse botton down and drag the cursor across the remaining cells where you want to copy the formula.Let go of the mouse. Note that Excel copies the formula and also adjusts the formula such that it picks up the appropriate row or column of numbers for the calculation.This “adjusting” is called relative cell addressing.Example – In cell F3 you enter this formula=A3C3and then copy it down from row 3 to row 12.The formula in row 4 will automatically be =A4C4, in row 5 will be A5*C5, etc.
14.Absolute cell addressing	Use this option when you want to use a constant number in a formula that you are copying from an original location to other locations. For example, imagine you want to multiple all the data in column R by the data in cell A7.You would write the formula as =R1$A$7, and copy that formula to all cells where appropriate.In this way, the formula in row 2 would read = R2$A$7, in row 3 would read R3*$A$7, and so on.
15.Help	Utilize the Help button on the menu bar to investigate topics and questions that arise as you work on spreadsheets.