Topic 10 - Spreadsheets

What is a spreadsheet?

It is a piece of software which is used to work out calculations. They can handle all the financial calculations for a large business, they can work with statistics and calculate probability or other statistics.

Formula

• All you will need to know is how to use and identify basic formula and functions on a spreadsheet
• i.e. how to add two cells, take away the values in two cells, multiply and divide

• A function does a very specific job within a spreadsheet. For exmaple, SUM will add up a set of numbers for you. AVERAGE is another common one which will give you the average of a set of numbers
• You start with an equals and then the word SUM, the open brackets and include the cells you want to add up, separated by a colon then close brackets
• i.e. =SUM (M1:M8)

Absolute cell references

• If you want to stick to the same cell, regardless of how you drag or copt it then you use an absolute cell reference like this-
• =$A$1
• The $ tells the spreadsheet not to alter the formula as you drag or copy it to another cell

• Automatic calcultion when data is entered, using formulas and functions
• It is easier to change data
• The user can clearly see which option he can best afford
• Carry out what if scenarios
• Save formula and data
• Can quickly sort data
• Draw graphs to give pictorial representation of data and information
• Accurate calculations