Introduction to Excel

Spreadsheets
A spreadsheet is an application that is
used for performing calculations.
Spreadsheets consist of columns and
rows.
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Spreadsheets
The intersection of each row and
column is called a CELL
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Each cell is identified by a row and

column reference such as A4, D6 etc.

Cells
Cells can contain either text, numbers
or formulas.
To enter data in the cell it must first be
selected (by clicking on the cell)
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 Cells can be formatted to display

numbers as either date, currency,
percent, decimal and other numerical
formats.
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ABC Car pets

March
April
May

$
$
$

78.50
102.34
45.76

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%

Most common text formatting options

are also available
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Formulas
Formulas are used to make a spreadsheet more versatile.
When writing formulas in a cell an equal sign = is first entered.

Mathematical
MathematicalOperations
Operations
Multiplication
**
Multiplication
Division
//
Division
Addition
++
Addition
Subtraction
-Subtraction

Relational
RelationalOperations
Operations
Equal
==
Equal
Not
<>
Notequal
equalto
to
<>
Less
<<
Lessthan
than
Greater
>>
Greaterthan
than
Less
Lessthan
thanor
orequal
equalto
to<=
<=
Greater
Greaterthan
thanor
orequal
equalto
to>=
>=
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Formulas
Formulas should be written in terms of
cell references
e.g. = C4 + C5 + C6
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ABC Car pets

March
April
May

$
78.50
$ 102.34
$
45.76
=C4+C5+C6

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%

Formulas
Once the formula is entered into the cell
the results will be shown.
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ABC Car pets

March
April
May

$
$
$
$

78.50
102.34
45.76
226.60

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%

Functions
There are many formulas or
FUNCTIONS that can be used in a
spreadsheet. Functions make
calculations easier.
These functions cover a variety of
categories such as mathematics,
financial or logical.
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Functions
Common functions include SUM,
AVERAGE, MAX and MIN.
Functions consist of a name, a set of
brackets and arguments or parameters.
Arguments are the values on which the
functions operate.

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SUM
The SUM function is one of the most
commonly used. It adds up all the
numbers in a range of cells.
=sum(A1,A2,A3,A4)
=sum(A1,A2,A3,A4)

adds
addscells
cellsA1,A2,A3
A1,A2,A3and
andA4
A4

=sum(A1:B5)
=sum(A1:B5)

adds
addsall
allthe
thenumbers
numbers
from
fromA1
A1to
toB5
B5

=sum(A1,B6,C67,F2)
=sum(A1,B6,C67,F2)
adds
addsthe
thecells
cellsindicated.
indicated.
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ABC Car pets

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

March
April
May

$ 78.50
$ 102.34
$ 45.76

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%

=sum(C4:C6)

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ABC Car pets

March
April
May

$ 78.50
$ 102.34
$ 45.76
$ 226.60

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%
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AVERAGE
The AVERAGE function operates in a
similar way as SUM.
=AVERAGE(A1,A2,A3,A4)
=AVERAGE(A1,A2,A3,A4)
averages
averagescells
cellsA1,A2,A3
A1,A2,A3and
andA4
A4

=AVERAGE(A1,B6,C67,F2)
=AVERAGE(A1,B6,C67,F2)
averages
averagesthe
thecells
cellsindicated.
indicated.

=AVERAGE(A1:B5)
=AVERAGE(A1:B5)
averages
averagesall
allthe
thenumbers
numbers
from
fromA1
A1to
toB5
B5

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ABC Car pets

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

March
April
May

$ 78.50
$ 102.34
$ 45.76

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%
=average(D4:D6)

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ABC Car pets

March
April
May

$ 78.50
$ 102.34
$ 45.76

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%
6.0%
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MAX and MIN

MAX returns the largest
value from a range of cells.

=MIN(B2:B9)
=MIN(B2:B9)

=MAX(B2:B9)
=MAX(B2:B9)

MIN returns the smallest

value from a range of
cells.
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ABC Car pets

2
3
4
5
6
7
8

March
April
May

$ 78.50
$ 102.34
$ 45.76

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%

Highest Profit

=MAX(D4:D6)
Lowest Profit

=MIN(D4:D6)

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ABC Car pets

March
April
May

$ 78.50
$ 102.34
$ 45.76

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%

Highest Profit

7.3%
Lowest Profit

4.5%
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Repetitive Formulas
Often the same formula will need to be
applied to different ranges of cells.
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ABC Car pets

March
April
May
Total

X
Y
Z
$ 78.50 $ 98.56 $ 88.89
$ 102.34 $ 77.89 $ 145.62
$ 45.76 $ 124.90 $ 97.45

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%
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Repetitive Formulas
Instead of entering the same formula in
each cell and adjusting the cell
reference, it is possible to fill the
formula across and have the cell
referencing adjusted automatically.
First select the cell with the formula and
then either select FILL from the edit
menu or use the FILL handle.
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Repetitive Formulas
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ABC Car pets

March
April
May
Total

X
Y
Z
$ 78.50 $ 98.56 $ 88.89
$ 102.34 $ 77.89 $ 145.62
$ 45.76 $ 124.90 $ 97.45
=sum(C4:C6)

Profit
6.2%
7.3%
4.5%

=sum(D4:D6) =sum(E4:E6)

FILL handle
Note: Fill Down may also be used to copy formulas down a column/s
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Absolute References
When ABSOLUTE references are used
the contents of the formula are not
changed when filling down or across.
i.e. the cell references remain the same.

Absolute references are indicated by

placing a $ before the column and/or
row reference.
e.g. $A$1
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Absolute References
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ABC Car pets

Jones
Day
Mckay
Hill

No. metres
12
23
5.6
32

Cost
Rate/m
=C4*$F$3
=C5*$F$3

$42.50

=C6*$F$3
=C7*$F$3

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Supporters
We would like to express our thanks
for the continued support from:
Accelerate

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