3. Excel Basics
We will use Excel to:
1. Store and organize data,
2. Analyze data, and
3. Represent data graphically (e.g., in bar graphs, histograms, and
scatterplots)
4. Excel Basics
• Microsoft Excel consists of Workbooks
• Each Workbook is made up of an infinite number of worksheets
• It is possible to name each worksheet to aid in organizing your data
5. What is a spreadsheet/worksheet ?
A program that displays data (text & numbers) in a table by
rows and columns
A grid with columns & rows
12. Excel 2003 vs. Excel 2007 vs. Excel 2021
256 Columns 16,384 Columns
65,536 Rows 1,048,576 Rows
13. What is a Cell Address (Reference)?
This is a column letter and row number
combination, such as A1, B2
14. What is a name box?
Displays the name of the active cell or range
15. What is a formula bar?
Displays the data or formula stored in the active
cell
16. Excel Basics
Excel allows for some basic actions which we
have used before in other programs
Copy/Paste (Rows, Columns, Cells, etc.)
Insert (Rows and Columns)
Sort (Alphabetically, Numerically,
Chronologically, etc.)
17. Inserting Rows and Columns
• The Insert command offers several techniques
to insert rows, columns, and cells
18. Deleting Rows and Columns
• The Delete command offers several techniques
to remove rows, columns, and cells
19. Formatting
Merging allows us to combine two or more
adjacent cells physically (disregarding
contents)
To merge cells simply highlight the cells to be merged
and select the merge option from the home menu
Cells can also be formatted with options you
are probably familiar with (bold, font size,
borders, etc.)
These options can be found scattered on the home
menu or under the format cells menu via the right-click
list. Even whole rows and columns can be formatted.
Let’s take a look!
20. Formatting
Excel also allows us to format cells by their
data types. This is useful for a variety of
reasons (sorting, manipulating, rounding,
etc.)
To format the cell’s data type, in the numbers
section of the home menu, select the number
drop-down menu (defaults to General) and
select the new type desired
22. Adjusting Row Height
• Row height is the vertical measurement of a
row
– The row height is automatically adjusted with a font
size increase
– Using ALT+Enter to create multiple lines may
require a row height adjustment
– Select Row Height from the Format menu
23. Data Entry
There are two ways to enter information into a cell:
1. Type directly into the
cell.
Click on a cell, and type in
the data (numbers or text)
and press Enter.
2. Type into the formula
bar.
Click on a cell, and then
click in the formula bar (the
space next to the ). Now
type the data into the bar
and press Enter.
24. Entering and Editing Cell Data
• Excel supports text, values, dates, and formula
results
28. Data Removal
Data can be removed from a cell, column, or
row easily
Here are a few methods:
Click the column or row heading that you want
deleted, then click the Delete in the Cells group on the
Home tab
Another method for entire row/column deletion is to
click a cell in the row or column and follow the above
method respectively
Delete methods are also found via the right-click menu
To remove data from a cell or group of cells, simply
highlight those to be deleted and press delete
29. • A range is a rectangular group of cells
• A nonadjacent range contains a group of
ranges that are not next to each other
Selecting a Cell Range
30. Auto Fill
Auto Fill enables us to copy the contents of a
cell or a range of cells by dragging the fill
handle over adjacent cells or a range
To use Auto Fill:
1. Click the cell with the content you want to copy
to make it the active cell
2. Position the pointer over the bottom-right
corner of the cell until it changes to the fill pointer
(a thin black plus sign)
3. Drag the fill handle to repeat the content in
other cells
31. Formulas and Functions
• Formulas are equations that perform calculations in your
spreadsheet. Formulas always begin with an equals sign (=). When
you enter an equals sign into a cell, you are basically telling Excel to
“calculate this.”
• Functions are Excel-defined formulas. They take data you select and
enter, perform calculations on them, and return value(s).
33. Order of Precedence
• Order of precedence (operations) controls the
sequence in which math operators are computed
– Parentheses
– Exponentiation
– Multiplication and Division
– Addition and Subtraction
34. Cell References in Formulas
• It is best to use cell addresses in formulas versus
actual data
– If cell A1 contains value 5 and you need to add B1
to this value, use =A1+B1 versus =5+B1
• If the data changes, Excel will recalculate the
result
35. Functions
• All functions have a common format – the equals sign followed
by the function name followed by the input in parentheses.
• The input for a function can be either:
• A set of numbers (e.g., “=AVERAGE(2, 3, 4, 5)”)
• This tells Excel to calculate the average of these numbers.
• A reference to cell(s) (e.g., “=AVERAGE(B1:B18) or “=AVERAGE (B1,
B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8)”
• This tells Excel to calculate the average of the data that appear in all
the cells from B1 to B8.
• You can either type these cell references in by hand or by clicking and
dragging with your mouse to select the cells.
36. Functions for Descriptive Statistics
=AVERAGE(first cell:last cell): calculates the mean
=MEDIAN(first cell:last cell): calculates the median
=MODE(first cell:last cell): calculates the mode
=VARP(first cell:last cell): calculates the variance
=STDEVP(first cell:last cell): calculates the standard deviation
You may directly write the functions for these statistics into
cells or the formula bar, OR
You may use the function wizard ( in the toolbar)
Below are several functions you may need to
learn for this class.
37. What is an active cell?
The cell in which you are currently
working (normally the cell is
surrounded by a black border)
38. What is a function?
A built-in formula that is a shortcut for common
calculations such as addition and average.
39. What are Operation Symbols?
Instruct the computer as to what mathematical
operations to perform
49. Definitions….
Sort Ascending – arranges records from A to Z or
smallest to largest
Sort Descending – arranges records from Z to A or
largest to smallest