Chapter 13: The Basics of Spreadsheets

Last Updated: 26 Aug 2005

Objectives - This Section provides information on Spreadsheets.  Some of these items are not in the text but may be on the Tests. 

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Describe the advantages of spreadsheets

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List several uses for spreadsheets (numerical manipulation)

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Explain the underlying features of electronic spreadsheets

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Describe the advantages of business graphics

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Differentiate between charts and graphs (output)

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Describe the advantages of spreadsheets

 

This section focuses on Spreadsheet software that takes input such as labels, numbers (values) and formulas which are processed into output such as reports, billing, taxes, accounting, charts and graphs.

Spreadsheets take input (data) in the form of labels, values or numbers and formula stored in cells in the spreadsheet.

Cells are made up of the intersection of rows and columns. Different spreadsheet packages offer different quantity of rows and columns, but all spreadsheets use these cells basically the same.

While many of the functions that exist in word processing such as: create, edit, format, store, retrieve and print, spreadsheet programs have many unique features that set them apart from other software packages.

Some of the advantages of using a spreadsheet include:

  1. Labor saving from having to calculate large amounts of data by hand

  2. Automatic recalculation - when one value in the spreadsheet changes, all dependent value on the spreadsheet are automatically recalculated to reflect the change

  3. “What If” Analysis - allow you to change one or more value, view the results, before the final decision is made on keeping (saving)  the spreadsheet

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List several uses for spreadsheets (numerical manipulation)

Some of the uses of using a spreadsheet include:

  1. Keep track of performance 

  2. Budgeting 

  3. Expense sheets 

  4. Stock market

  5. College fund  

  6. Taxes - which some programs have built in templates

  7. What if analysis - for example:

- What if we reduce the price by 5%? 

-  What if we buy a home and the mortgage rate increases by .5%?

- What if I had more exemptions on my taxes?

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Explain the underlying features of electronic spreadsheets

As mentioned above data is entered into spreadsheet cells and the intersection of the rows and columns make up the cell.  In the active cell (that cell that is identified at the intersection of the row and column) can contain one of the following:

  1. labels - provide descriptive information about entries in the spreadsheet

  2. value or numbers - is an actual number entered into a cell; and

  3. formulas - which are instructions to the spreadsheet program to perform a calculation. Functions are like preprogrammed formula. 

Some of the common features on most all spreadsheet programs include:

  1. Range - a group of adjacent cells in a rectangular area, to build a formula or perform a function

  2. Formatting and graphics  

  3. Column width  

  4. Row height  

  5. Headings  

  6. Number symbols and styles  

  7. Justification  

  8. Text font and style

  9. Printing

  10. Protect and password cells

  11. Decorate cells with borders, color, and clip art  

  12. Business graphics

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Describe the advantages of business graphics  

Business graphics represent business data in a visual, easily understood format.  They also generate and sustain the interest of an audience; make a lesson, report, or business document more attractive; help get a point across; can reveal a trend that is lost in a column of numbers; and presenter appears more prepared and organized.

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Differentiate between charts and graphs (output)

As mentioned above, spreadsheet programs were one of the first application software packages, to integrate data from one software package to another.  In this case, taking data from the spreadsheet program and integrating the data to produce charts and graphs. Some of the charts and graphs produces by most all spreadsheet programs include:

  1. Analytical Graphics (analysis-oriented graphics)

  2. Common charts and graphs: 

    1. line graph - X-axis – units of time; Y-axis – measured values or amounts; Plot area – space above and to the right of the axes; Data point – each dot or symbol; Data – set of values; Variables – category of data; Labels – identify the categories on the x-axis and the units on the y-axis; Chart title; and Axes titles

    2. bar graph - show data comparisons by the lengths or heights of bars

    3. pie chart - represents a single value for each value

  3. Presentation Graphics (business-quality graphics) - enhance charts created by other programs 

  4. Most spreadsheet provide the following output: 

    1. reports, 

    2. billing, 

    3. taxes, 

    4. accounting, 

    5. create charts, 

    6. diagrams, 

    7. drawing, and 

    8. text slides 

  5. In presentation graphics, clip art allows the user to bring in animation and sounds.

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