Excel at Excel Computer Literacy 2009

What is Excel? We use Excel for: Organizing data Making calculations Making sense of data Charting data Sharing data in a known format Presentations

The Basics (Formatting) Columns, Rows, Cells Identifying cells Formatting cells and information in cells Expanding cells Inserting rows and columns Format cells by: right click cell or “Format” Much of the formatting is exactly like Word The “Lifesaver” EDIT UNDO or “back”

Some Basic Formatting Practice Hit “Enter” to advance rows Let’s number all the odd rows (up to 39) in column “A” Start with a 1 in row 1, 3 in row 3, 5 in row 5, etc. Bold all the odd numbers in column A Let’s number all the even rows (up to 38) in column “B” Italicize all the even numbers in column B Hit “Tab” to advance columns Let’s put letters in all the odd rows (up to 39) in column “C” Start with an “a” in row 1 (column C), b in row 3, c in row 5, etc. Right align “a” in column “C”, center “b” in column C, left align “c”, center “d”, right align “e”, etc.

Formatting continued… Fill column C green all the way to cell C39 Fill column D red all the way to cell D39 Insert border around cell C1 and D1 (as dark as possible Write “TOTAL” in C1 and “MINUS” in D1 Bold both and center them

Equations (Formulas) - SUM 1. SUM: The SUM equation is written like this: =SUM(cell,cell,cell) This equation would add up three specific cells because the comma tells Excel to add individual cells that you ID 2. We can also find the SUM of a range of cells which is written like this: =SUM(cell:cell) The colon tells Excel to add up all the cells in between cells given which gives us the summation of a range

Equations (Formulas) - Average Average- The average function is written like this: =AVERAGE(cell:cell) or =AVERAGE(cell,cell,cell,…) The colon tells us that we are using a range of cells. Cell A1:A8 is the range of cells in column A rows 1-8. The AVERAGE equation tells us to take the average of the contents in the cells We can also find the average of multiple cells not in a range (using the comma)

More formulas Not just adding… Division, subtraction, multiplication: To divide using the SUM equation: =SUM(cell/cell) To subtract using the SUM equation: =SUM(cell-cell) To multiply using the SUM equation: =SUM(cell*cell) Let’s find some averages using the SUM equation

Insert a Function Click a cell that you want to include a function into From the menu bar: click “Insert” and select “Function” A list of a bunch of equation possibilities will appear – select “SUM” Read what it tells you about it and see if you can find the SUM of two cells from this screen

Other Important Equations We have seen SUM and AVERAGE Along with some specifics about each Let’s look at: MAX, MIN, and MODE MAX – finds the highest value in a range MIN – finds the smallest value in a range MODE – finds the most common value in a range

EQUATIONS =MAX(cell:cell) Or =MAX(cell,cell,cell,cell) =MIN(cell:cell) Or =MIN(cell,cell,cell) =MODE(cell:cell) Or =MODE(cell,cell)

Inserting a Chart Representing Data Insert/Chart (or icon Chart Wizard) Select the type of chart Highlight ALL info you want represented (including titles) Name your chart Next and Finish… Edit chart to include useful information (title, x/y axis - use help to find out how)