Excel
Excel
EXCEL
Overview
Excel is a spreadsheet, a grid made from columns and
rows. It is a software program that can make number
manipulation easy and somewhat painless.
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Basics of a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are made up of
Columns
Rows
and their intersections are called cells
What is a COLUMN ?
In a spreadsheet the COLUMN labeled D is
COLUMN is defined as highlighted.
the vertical space that is
going up and down the
window. Letters are
used to designate each
COLUMN'S location.
What is a row?
In a spreadsheet the ROW labeled 4 is
ROW is defined as the highlighted.
horizontal space that is
going across the window.
Numbers are used to
designate each ROW'S
location.
What is a CELL ?
A CELL is the space In the above diagram the
where a row and column CELL labeled C2 is
intersect. Each CELL is highlighted.
assigned a name
according to its
COLUMN letter and
ROW number.
Types of data
In each cell there may be the following data types:
Labels -- (text with no numerical value)
Number data (constant values)
Formulas (mathematical equation used to calculate)
Parenthesis =(A1+B1) 10
Exponential =(A1^B1) 3125
Basic Functions in Excel
Sum: will add all the values of cells in the argument
Average: will get the average of all the values of cells in
the argument
Counts the number of cells with numerical data in the
argument
Max: gets the highest cell value include in the
argument
Min: gets the lowest cell value in the argument
If condition
=SUM(A1:A5)
Equal
Function name Argument
sign
SUM Function
Definition: Tips:
Probably the most popular Blank cells will return a value
function in any spreadsheet is of zero to be added to the
the SUM function. The Sum total.
function takes all of the Text cells can not be added to
values in each of the specified a number and will produce an
cells and totals their values. error.
The syntax is: =SUM(first
value, second value, etc)
Sum function
Average Function
The average function
finds the average of the
specified data.
(Simplifies adding all of
the indicated cells
together and dividing by
the total number of
cells.)
=AVERAGE(B2:F2)
Max & Min Functions
The Max function will return the largest
(max) value in the selected range of cells.
The Min function will display the smallest
value in a selected set of cells.
=MAX(B2:B3)
Count Function
The Count function will return the number of
entries (actually counts each cell that contains
NUMBER DATA) in the selected range of cells.
Remember: cell that are blank or contain text will
not be counted.
=COUNT(A1:E13)
IF Function
Definition: Tips:
The IF function will check Until you are used to writing
the logical condition of a them, test them out on
statement and return one multiple cells.
value if true and a different There are multiple ways to
value if false. write an IF statement to get
The syntax is: the same result
=IF (condition, value-if-true,
value-if-false)
IF Function
IF Functions are like
programing - they provide
multiple answers based on
certain conditions.
=IF(H2>19.9,”PASSED”,”FAILED”)
Common Errors
The following are some errors that may appear in a spreadsheet (there are
others too).
#######
Cell is too narrow to display the results of the formula. To fix this simply make the column
wider and the “real” value will be displayed instead of the ###### signs. Note that even when
the ###### signs are being displayed, Excel still uses the “real” value to calculate formulas
that reference this cell.
#NAME?
You used a cell reference in the formula that is not formed correctly (e.g. =BB+10 instead of
=B3+10)
#VALUE!
Usually the result of trying to do math with a textual value. Example: =A1*3 where A1 contains
the word “hello”
#DIV/0!
Trying to divide by zero. Example: =3/A1 where A1 contains 0 (zero)
Circular Reference
Using a formula that contains a reference to the cell that the formula “lives in”. Example:
putting the formula =A1+1 in cell A1 or putting the formula =SUM(A1:B2) in any of the cells
A1, B1, A2, B2
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Excel 2010
Instantly reveal formulas and general number format of all cells