Spreadsheets Spreadsheets

What is a spreadsheet? A spreadsheet is a program used for performing calculations on tables of numbers. It can also often produce graphs and charts of this data. A spreadsheet is a grid of cells each with its own cell reference. A spreadsheet is a program used for performing calculations on tables of numbers. It can also often produce graphs and charts of this data. A spreadsheet is a grid of cells each with its own cell reference. Each cell can hold an item of data which is either text or a value or a formula. Each cell can hold an item of data which is either text or a value or a formula.

Key Words Cell Cell Column Column Row Row Types of cell data:- Types of cell data:- Text Text Value Value formula formula

Formulae Formulae instruct the spreadsheet how to carry out a calculation. Here are some simple formulae:- Formulae instruct the spreadsheet how to carry out a calculation. Here are some simple formulae:- = A3 * B3 (multiply the contents of cell A3 by the contents of cell B3 ) = C4 / C5 (divide the contents of cell C4 by the contents of cell C5 ) = C6 * (multiply the contents of cell C6 * This could calculate VAT on a price.) = A3 * B3 (multiply the contents of cell A3 by the contents of cell B3 ) = C4 / C5 (divide the contents of cell C4 by the contents of cell C5 ) = C6 * (multiply the contents of cell C6 * This could calculate VAT on a price.)

Formulae using functions A function is an operation which can be applied to a range of cells. A function is an operation which can be applied to a range of cells. For example:- For example:- to add up the contents of all the cells from B4 to G4= SUM(B4:G4) to add up the contents of all the cells from B4 to G4= SUM(B4:G4) to calculate the average of a column of cells to calculate the average of a column of cells =AVERAGE(D3:D15) =AVERAGE(D3:D15) A function can be replicated (copied) down columns and along rows. A function can be replicated (copied) down columns and along rows. What other functions could you use? What other functions could you use?

Complex formulae Often calculations require more complex formulae. Often calculations require more complex formulae. For example:- For example:- Here is part of a spreadsheet containing the wages for a group of employees. Here is part of a spreadsheet containing the wages for a group of employees. Overtime hours are paid at 1.5 times normal hours. Overtime hours are paid at 1.5 times normal hours. What formula do you think is in cell E2? What formula do you think is in cell E2? (You will need to multiply normal hours times rate of pay and overtime hours times 1.5 times rate of pay and then add the two answers together.) (You will need to multiply normal hours times rate of pay and overtime hours times 1.5 times rate of pay and then add the two answers together.)

Cell attributes This is a complicated sounding term but is really fairly straightforward. Cell attributes can be changed. This is a complicated sounding term but is really fairly straightforward. Cell attributes can be changed. For example:- For example:- numbers can be displayed to any number of decimal places you like numbers can be displayed to any number of decimal places you like column widths and row heights can be changed column widths and row heights can be changed The attributes of a cell dictate how the data is to be displayed. The attributes of a cell dictate how the data is to be displayed.

Replication Don't worry it's not as complicated as the name suggests. A similar formula is sometimes needed all the way down a column of a spreadsheet. To do this we replicate or copy the formula down the required cells. Don't worry it's not as complicated as the name suggests. A similar formula is sometimes needed all the way down a column of a spreadsheet. To do this we replicate or copy the formula down the required cells. For example: For example:

Referencing (Credit) In the earlier example the cell references updated as the formula was replicated. This is called a relative reference. In the earlier example the cell references updated as the formula was replicated. This is called a relative reference. Sometimes we don't want this to happen. In these cases we would use an absolute reference. Sometimes we don't want this to happen. In these cases we would use an absolute reference. For example: For example:

Conditional formulae (Credit) A conditional formulae is one that uses IF to determine what it should calculate. You're unlikely to be asked to write a complete formula in the exam but you should have a good grasp of how they work. A conditional formulae is one that uses IF to determine what it should calculate. You're unlikely to be asked to write a complete formula in the exam but you should have a good grasp of how they work.

Conditional formulae continued The formula in C2 is = IF(B2 > 6000,100,0) which means if B2 is greater than 6000 then value in C2 is 100 otherwise the value in C2 is 0. The formula in C2 is = IF(B2 > 6000,100,0) which means if B2 is greater than 6000 then value in C2 is 100 otherwise the value in C2 is 0. The salesperson will only get a bonus if they make more than £6000 of sales. The salesperson will only get a bonus if they make more than £6000 of sales.