1. Excel Reading Excel tables ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

2. Problems Too much information Cannot distinguish one column from another Information not clear ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

3. Strategies Fonts Use of colour Hide unnecessary information Spacing Alignment ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

4. CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 INCOME Student Loan£1,540 Family Employment£76 £95£76 £95 Gifts £100 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 Rent£217 Food£120 £150£120 £150 Housekeeping/Toiletries£40 £50£40 £50 Clothing£50 Water rates£20 Gas 35 £35 Electricity £20 TV£12 Leisure£200 £320£200 £250 Clubs/sport£165£40£75£40 £75 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

5. Format Cells Font CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 INCOME Student Loan£1,540 Family Employment£76 £95£76 £95 Gifts £100 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 Rent£217 Food£120 £150£120 £150 Housekeeping/Toiletries£40 £50£40 £50 Clothing£50 Water rates£20 Gas 35 £35 Electricity £20 TV£12 Leisure£200 £320£200 £250 Clubs/sport£165£40£75£40 £75 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 Font sans serif ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

6. Format Cells Patterns CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 INCOME Student Loan£1,540 Family Employment£76 £95£76 £95 Gifts £100 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 Rent£217 Food£120 £150£120 £150 Housekeeping/Toiletries£40 £50£40 £50 Clothing£50 Water rates£20 Gas 35 £35 Electricity £20 TV£12 Leisure£200 £320£200 £250 Clubs/sport£165£40£75£40 £75 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 Colour columns ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

7. Format Row Hide CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 Hide unnecessary information ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

8. Format Cells Font Colour CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 Colour rows ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

9. Format Cells Font Size CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 Increase font size ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

10. Format Row Height CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 Increase row height ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

11. Format Cells Alignment Vertical Centre CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 Centre text in row ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

12. CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636-£42£876£219 INCOME Student Loan£1,540 Family Employment£76 £95£76 £95 Gifts £100 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 Rent£217 Food£120 £150£120 £150 Housekeeping/Toiletries£40 £50£40 £50 Clothing£50 Water rates£20 Gas 35 £35 Electricity £20 TV£12 Leisure£200 £320£200 £250 Clubs/sport£165£40£75£40 £75 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636-£42£876£219-£489 ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University

13. Format Conditional Formatting ©Mathematics Education Centre, Loughborough University CASE STUDY BUDGET 2008/09 OCTNOVDECJANFEBMAR STARTING BALANCE£500£1,293£636(£42)£876£219 TOTAL INCOME£1,616£76£195£1,616£76£95 TOTAL EXPENDITURE£823£733£873£698£733£803 BALANCE£1,293£636(£42)£876£219(£489) Red if negative