PEP 294: Web-Based Labs

Lab #4: Introduction to Spreadsheet

Before you start this lab, first read the general instructions for the PEP 294 web-based labs.

Procedures

Spreadsheet programs are a useful tool for computation and charting. In this lab we will explore Microsoft Excel and some of its useful features. Several web-based labs in this course will require the use of the spreadsheet program.

The basic features to be covered in this lab include:

- execution and termination of the program

- data input

- file saving / opening

- data & spreadsheet manipulation

a. copy, cut & paste data

b. insert & delete rows & columns

c. data properties (format - decimal places, currency, font, etc.)

- basic calculations

=, +, -, *, /, ^

- use of functions

a. average(), stdev(), max(), min()

b. power(), sqrt()

c. sin(), cos(), tan(), asin(), acos(), atan(), radians(), degrees(), pi()

- advanced manipulation of data

a. copy & paste formula

b. use of $ to prevent automatic update of the row and column #s

- graphs

types of graph: column, bar, line, scattergram

- copying data & graphs to word document

- using helps

Microsoft Excel provides with a lot of on-line helps. Students will have to rely on these on-line helps to learn new features and to solve problems by themselves.

These features/functions are essential to successful lab activities in this course.

It is certainly not intended in this lab to teach every detail of the spreadsheet program. Since spreadsheet programs are such a useful tool, students are strongly encouraged to study advanced features on their own.

Click here for a sample data set.