Algebra 2
Project: Literal Equations and Excel Worksheets
One of the main reasons for solving literal equations is to make repetitive calculations easier.
Excel and similar computer spreadsheet applications are very useful for doing these calculations.
This project will require you to solve several literal equations and to use Excel to compute
answers to a number of situations related to the same equation.
What do you turn in?
You will electronically hand in one Excel Workbook to complete this project. Here are the
requirements for the workbook:
 The file name must be “your last name Literal Equations Project.xlsx”
 Each of the two problems listed below must be completed on a separate sheet in the
workbook.
 On each sheet, you must show.
1. The title of the problem
2. The original equation (typed using Microsoft Equation)
3. The solved literal equation (typed using Microsoft Equation)
4. A nicely formatted table with Excel-calculated answers to the list of situations given in
the problem. Use 2 decimal places for the computed value.
 DUE: Electronically to Mr. Killian using Canvas by 8 am Wednesday October 15, 2014
Problem 1 – Swimming Pool Salesperson
You design and sell swimming pools. For customers who
want round pools, the formula for the volume of the pool is
simple:
V = πr2d
Where r is the pool radius and d is the depth of the water.
Different customers have different sized yards, so they can
fit different diameter pools. For the volume to be 4,000 ft3,
you will have to choose the appropriate depth for each
radius.
Solve the equation for d, then compute the appropriate values of d for the pools indicated in the
table. Show 2 decimal places for the d column. Copy the values in the table into Excel and have
Excel do the calculations. Do not do the calculations with a hand calculator and simply type the
answers into Excel.
Customer
Uhl
Postman
Gaeta
Goodman
3
Volume (ft )
4000
4000
4000
4000
Diameter (ft)
30
25
40
20
Calculated
Radius
Calculated d
(feet)
Excel
does
the
calculations
Excel
does
the
calculations
Problem 2 – Landscape Architect
You are a landscape architect, and many
customers are asking for trapezoid-shaped
gardens. The formula for the area of a trapezoid
is
A=
1
h(B + b)
2
B
h
b
Solve the equation for b, then compute the appropriate values of b for the gardens indicated in
the table. Show 2 decimal places for the b column. Copy the values in the table into Excel and
have Excel do the calculations. Do not do the calculations with a hand calculator and simply
type the answers into Excel.
Customer
Smith
Martin
Weinstein
Harris
your last name
2
Area (ft )
120
160
500
350
400
B (ft)
11
13
40
50
your birthday
date
Height (ft)
12
10
15
8
your birthday
month
Rubric:
2 pts for properly solved and displayed equations on each of the two sheets
5 pts for a correct table with calculations done by Excel for each of the 2 sheets
7 pts per sheet for 2 sheets: 14 points total.
Calculated b
(feet)
Excel
does
all of
the
calculations