Computer Data Analysis
CGS 2518
Instructor: Greg Shaw
Two-Variable Data Tables
 Concepts
A two-variable data table is used to perform a series of more
sophisticated what-if analyses all at the same time, using
various combinations of values for two input cells

A two-variable data table always
cells, and exactly one result cell

Tutorial Example
has
exactly
two
input
“What would be the net income for various combinations of
units sold and price per unit?”
o The result cell is the one with the formula for the net
income
o The input cells are the two cells that contain the number
of units sold and the price per unit
 How to Create a Two-Variable Data Table
1.
In the upper-left-hand corner cell of the table, insert a
formula that references the result cell
2.
Just to the right of the of upper-left-hand corner cell,
fill the row with the range of values for one of the input
cells
3.
Just below the upper-left-hand corner cell, fill the
column with the range of values for the other input cell
4.
Select the entire table (except for any headings)
5.
Data | Data Tools | What-If Analysis | Data Table...
6.
In the Row input cell text box, enter the
corresponding to the row of values you entered
7.
In the Column input cell text box, enter the input cell
corresponding to the column of values you entered
8.
Click OK
input cell
 Creating a Custom Format
“Lets us display whatever we want in a cell regardless of the actual
contents of that cell!”
Example: We want to “hide” the reference to the result cell in the
upper-left-hand corner of the two-variable table because it could be
confusing. Instead, let’s display a proper column heading.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Right-click the cell and choose Format Cells...
Click the Number tab
In the Category list, Click on Custom
In the Type text box, replace the format code shown with your
text, enclosed in double quotes - for example, “Units Sold”
Click OK
 Charting a Two-Variable Data Table
1.
Select the entire table except for the top row!
Recall that the top row contains the column headings, which are
usually labels.
But when charting a two-variable data table,
the column headings are numbers, not labels, so Excel would
consider them to be part of the data and include them in the
chart
2.
Insert | Charts | Scatter and select the Scatter with Straight
Lines subtype
3.
By default, Excel assumes that the data series are in the rows.
If instead the data series are in the columns – as in the
tutorial example – the chart will look weird and we will need to
tell Excel to plot the data by column:
Chart Tools | Design | Data | Switch Row/Column
4.
Move the chart to a separate sheet and add chart and axis titles
Note the “generic” entries in the chart legend (Series 1, Series
2, etc)!
Since the data series were in the columns, the legend was
automatically created from the column headings, and we did not
select any column headings! So, the last step is to rename each
data series (see next page)
 Renaming the Data Series
1.
Chart Tools | Design | Data | Select Data
(Opens the Select Data Source dialog)
2.
Now, for each label in the Legend Entries (Series) text box, do
this:
i.
ii.
iii.
3.
Click the label to select it and click the Edit button
Click on the cell containing the column heading you want
to use.
(Since the chart is in a separate sheet, this
will involve a worksheet reference)
Click OK
When all series have been renamed, click OK to close the Select
Data Source dialog