Chapter 6

Calculations, Visualization, and

Simulation

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The Spreadsheet

Cell A1

Cell C12

The spreadsheet consists of: Cells (the intersection

of a row and column)

Addresses (column letter and row number, e.g., A1, C12)

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Spreadsheets can contain:

The Spreadsheet

Values such as numbers and dates

Labels that explain what a value means, such as column and report headings

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The Spreadsheet

Formulas allow you to create instructions using mathematical expressions and commands

+ (plus)- (minus) *(multiplication)/ (division) SumAverage

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Order of Operations

1. Parentheses2. Multiplication / Division3. Addition / Subtraction

Operations having the same level of priority, such as multiplication and division are evaluated from left to rightExample:1 + 8 / 2 * (3 – 1) 1 + 8/2 * 2 1 + 4 * 2 1 + 8 9

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Spreadsheets offer many automatic features such as replication of data

Type the first value in the series such as Qtr 1 or January or 500

Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4

and let the software replicate it to other cells.

Spreadsheet Features

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Spreadsheet Features

Formulas can be relative, so they refer to different cells when they are copied

When the formula in column B is copied to column C, it changes relative to the new column.

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Spreadsheet Features

Formulas can also be absolute, so the cell references don’t change when they are copied

The $ before the row and column references prevent that part of the formula from being changed when it’s moved or copied.

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Spreadsheet Features

Automatic recalculation

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Spreadsheet Features

Functions (e.g., SUM, AVG, SQRT) are used to automate complex calculations

Macros let you store keystrokes and commands so they can be played back automatically

Templates offer ready-to-use worksheets with labels and formulas already entered

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Spreadsheet Features

Linking spreadsheets together

When the value change in one spreadsheet, the data is automatically updated in all linked spreadsheets

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Spreadsheet Features

Database capabilities Search for information Sort the data by a specific criteria Merge the data with a word processor Generate reports

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Spreadsheets allow you to change numbers and instantly see the effects of those changes. “What if I enter this value?”

Equation solvers Some spreadsheets generate data needed to fit a given

equation and target value.

“What If?”

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Charts allow you to turn numbers into visual data:

Pie charts (show relative proportions to the whole)

Line charts (show trends or relationships over time)

15%

20%

65%45.9 46.9 45

30.638.6 34.6

20.427.4

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1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr

EastWest

North

Spreadsheet Graphics: From Digits to Drawings

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Spreadsheet Graphics: From Digits to Drawings

Bar charts (use if data falls into a few categories)

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1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr

North

West

East

Scatter charts (use to discover, rather than to display, a relationship between two variables)

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Australia

Germany

Canada

Great Britain