MATH 10 - LAB 1
INTRODUCTION TO EXCEL
Below are two data sets, one for the average retail price of gasoline in the State of California for each month in 2005, and
the other for the average retail price of gasoline in the State of Texas for each month in 2005.This data is from the U.S.
Department of Energy (units are dollars per gallon).
1. Set up an Excel spreadsheet which will look like the rows and columns below. You will have to type in the headings,
the months, and the data.
2. Using the functions, SUM, AVERAGE, STDEV, MEDIAN, have
Excel compute the sum, the mean, the standard deviation, the
median, and the range of each of the columns of data. For
example, to compute the sum of the California data, you need
"=SUM(B2:B13)" in the B15 cell, if the "2.02" is in the B2 cell and
"2.32" is in the B13 cell.
For example, click in
this cell and type:
=AVERAGE(C2:C13)
Click in cell C17 and
type:
=STDEV(C2:C13)
and s for data set C
will appear in that cell.
To calculate the range of the
CA data set, type:
=MAX(B2:B13)-MIN(B2:B13)
in cell B19.
For example, click in cell B18
and type:
=MEDIAN(B2:B13)
and the median for data set
B will appear in that cell.
3. Create a 3rd data set in column D by adding 3 to each value in the California data set. To do this in Excel, click in cell
D2 and type, "=B2+3" and click ENTER. Then click once in cell D2 again and select Edit -> Copy. Then drag your
mouse over cells D3 down to cell D13 and select Edit -> Paste. Compute the sum, the mean, the standard deviation, the
median, and the range of this new data set.
The next two pages explain how to create a graph in Excel.
If you are using Excel version 2003 then go to page 2 for graph instructions.
If you are using Excel version 2007 then go to page 3 for graph instructions.
If you are unsure of which version you are using, compare your excel screen to the screen shots on pages 2 and
3 -- you should be able to tell which version you are using.
HOW TO C REATE A GRAPH USING EXCEL (VERSION 2003):
Select both columns of data (including the California and Texas headings).
Then click on the CHART WIZARD
or
(depending on which version of Excel you have).
Chart Type: Line
Click on this
picture for the
Chart sub-type.
Click on the Next button.
Click on the Next button again.
Fill in the Titles
accordingly.
Your graph should
be an object in
Sheet 1.
Click on the Finish button.
Use your Excel summary statistics output and the graph to answer the questions in Lab 1.
WARNING: Be sure to save your Excel file with all the data, summary stats, and the graph.
You may be asked to submit the file at a later date.
How to Create a Graph Using Excel 2007
Click on the Insert menu tab at the top of the window, then click on the Line Chart image.
Click on the Line with Markers chart type.
Click on the arrow down scroll button in the Chart Layouts Section.
Click on Layout type 10
Click in the axis titles and the main title fields to edit them appropriately:
Main Title:
Retail Gas Prices
Horizontal Axis: Month
Vertical Axis: Dollars Per Gallon
Use your Excel summary statistics output and the graph to answer the questions in Lab 1.
WARNING: Be sure to save your Excel file with all the data, summary stats, and the graph.
You may be asked to submit the file at a later date.