Spreadsheets

The Basic Principals

Why use spreadsheets?

• Spreadsheets allow the user to do calculations.• Spreadsheets allow the user to enter complex

formulae to allow calculations to be performed.• Spreadsheets allow the user to create graphs

from numerical data.• IF ONE OF THE NUMBERS CHANGES THEN

THE COMPUTER WILL RECALCULATE THE ANSWER.

Types of Formulae - Adding

If you want to add up a list of numbers there are 2 ways of doing this.

A B

1 23

2 10

3 7

4 88

5

A B

1 23

2 10

3 7

4 88

5

=B1+B2+B3+B4=SUM(B1:B4)

This tells the computer to add everything between B1 and B4

Types of Formula - Multiplying

Sometimes you will need to use a formulae to calculate the total cost of something. This could be 400 apples at 20p each.

A B C D E

1 Apples 400 20p

=B1*C1

Formulae – Special Types

AVERAGE MAX/MINThis calculates the average of a list This calculates the

biggest and smallest in a list.

A

1 3

2 5

3 27

4 14

5 99

6

=AVERAGE(A1:A5)

A B

1 34

2 37

3 31

4 MAX =max(B1:B3)

5 MIN =min(B1:B3)

CELL ATTRIBUTES

• The cell in a spreadsheet can contain text or number. You can define what you want the spreadsheet to display.

A B C D

1 Tuck Shop 26 Oct

2 Juice 20 20p 400p

3 Crisps 10 25p 250p

4 Mars 50 50p 2500p

5 £31.50

TEXT NUMBER DATE CURRENCY

Relative or Absolute

When you use a formulae to do a series of calculations then it is likely it will be the same throughout. e.g.

A B C D E F

1 Tuck Shop Sales

2 Item No. Cost Total

3 Apples 20 5 =B3*C3

4 Crisps 25 10 =B4*C4

5 Cans 30 20 =B5*C5

6

Notice as you go down the spreadsheet the formula changes. This is RELATIVE formulae – this means it changes each time.

Absolute Formula• When you need a formula to take a value from the SAME reference throughout then you use

ABSOLUTE. E.g.

A B C D E

1 Item Cost Cost + VAT

VAT

2 Paint £5.00 =B2*$E$2 0.175

3 Paste £2.50 =B3*$E$2

4 Brush £1.75 =B4*$E$2

5

The $ sign tells the computer to take the same formula and DO NOT MOVE DOWN – this is called ABSOLUTE formulae