Chapter 6

Calculations, Visualization, and

Simulation

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The Spreadsheet: Software for Simulation and Speculation

Statistical Software: Beyond Spreadsheets

Statistics and Data Analysis

Scientific Visualization

Calculated Risks: Computer Modeling and Simulation

“The purpose of computation is not numbers but insight.”

R. W. Hamming..

Topics

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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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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

Or absolute, so the formula references never change 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

Automatic recalculation

– Any time a change is entered into the spreadsheet, all data related to the change automatically updates.

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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

90

0

20

40

60

80

100

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)

0

20

40

60

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100

120

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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)

$0.00

$1,000.00

$2,000.00

$3,000.00

$4,000.00

$5,000.00

$6,000.00

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

Australia

Germany

Canada

Great Britain

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Accounting and Financial Management software allows you to do electronically handle routine transactions such as:

writing checks balancing accounts creating budgets

Statistical Software:Beyond Spreadsheets

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Statistical Software:Beyond Spreadsheets

Mathematics Processing software turns abstract mathematical relationships into visual objects.

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Statistical Software: Beyond Spreadsheets

Statistical and data analysis software collects and analyzes data that tests the strength of data relationships.

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Statistical Software: Beyond Spreadsheets

Scientific visualization software uses shape, location in space, color, brightness, and motion to help us visualize data.

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Computer modeling uses computers to create abstract models of objects, organisms, organizations, and processes.

Calculated Risks: Computer Modeling and Simulation

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Computer Modeling and Simulation

Examples: computer games (chess boards, sports arenas, and

mythological societies) computer models of organisms, objects, and

organizations flight simulators and simulations of science lab

activities managing a business, city, or nation

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Computer Simulations are widely used for research in the physical, biological, and social sciences, and in engineering.

Computer Simulation

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Schools, businesses, and the military use simulations for training because:

Safety: non-threatening environments Economy: less expensive than real life Projection: less threatening to systems Visualization: allows to see and understand Replication: allows repetition of projects

Computer Modeling and Simulation

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Computer Simulation:The Risks

Risks: Simulation isn’t reality.

Not all factors can be entered into the model or simulation.