Exploring Engineering
Chapter 3, Part 2
Introduction to Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets Can Aid in
Calculation, Visualization and
Simulation
Data Visualization
 Data
are raw facts. For example a
collection of numbers.
 Information can be gained by presenting
the data in a way that makes it possible
to visualize the meaning of the data.
Organizing Data
 Headings
 Labels
 Formatting
numbers as percentages,
currency, etc.
 Graphs can be used to display data in a
way that the significance of the numeric
data can be seen.
 Ordering the data by sorting.
Performing Computations
 Spreadsheets
provide built in functions
to perform calculations using the data.
 MAX
 MIN
 SUM
 AVERAGE
 STDEV
 Etc
for many, many, more functions
Knowledge
 Knowledge
results from the
interpretation of information.
 It takes a human being with expertise to
interpret the information to gain
knowledge.
Spreadsheets
 Definition: A spreadsheet
is software
designed to manipulate and analyze
numbers and formulas in rows and
columns.
 We will be using Microsoft Excel in this
class. However there are similar
programs such as Lotus 123.
The Spreadsheet
Cell Contents
 The
types of cell contents:
 Alphanumeric
– text
Headings
 Labels

 Numeric
Integers
 Floating point
 Equations and formulae: B1+B4/H13
 Predefined Functions: Previously discussed in
slide 5.

An Example
 We
will be creating a worksheet for a
class grade sheet.
 The input to a spreadsheet requires
entering numbers in cells.
 In this case the input will be grades.
Grade sheet

Final Grade Rubric
 Assign each exam as 18% of the final score, the
final exam as 36% of the final score, and
homework as 10% of the final score, then a
student's final score is: Final Score = 0.18*(Ex1
+ Ex2 + Ex3) + 0.36*(Final Exam) +
0.10*(Homework Score)
 Assign a letter grade according to:
 If Final score > 80, A
 If Final score > 70, B
 If Final score > 65, C
 If Final score > 60, D
 If Final score < 60, F
Excel Spreadsheet
A
1
B
Weighting: Ex1 =
C
D
E
18% Ex2 =
F
G
18% Ex3 =
H
I
18% Ex3 =
J
18% Final =
2
3
Name Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Final
H/W
Total Grade
Han
Smith
Thor
83
54
91
78
67
88
87
77
89
79
62
88
89
64
90
82.0
64.4
88.9
A
D
A
Kaye
47
58
78
56
65
59.6
F
8
Simon
64
60
73
69
76
67.9
C
9
Roger
98
96
98
97
95
97.0
A
Liu
Kits
97
41
89
78
89
84
93
67
89
58
91.9
66.5
A
C
McIn
58
61
43
31
44
44.7
F
Douz
Aver:
92
72.5
92
76.7
91
80.9
90
73.2
96
76.6
91.5
75.4
A
4
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
• Write one line then copy and paste the rest
K
L
36% HW =
M
10%
Excel grade sheet
C
D
E
F
Name
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Han
Smith
Thor
83
54
78
67
87
77
91
88
89
Kaye
47
58
78
8
Simon
64
60
73
9
Roger
98
97
96
89
98
89
41
78
84
3
4
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
Liu
Kits
McIn
Douz
Aver:
58
61
92
92
=AVERAGE(D4:D13) =AVERAGE(E4:E13)
• See how you get the average of each exam
43
91
=AVERAGE(F4:F13)
It’s easy for the grader to cheat!
I
3
Total
5
=D4*C$1+E4*E$1+F4*G$1+G4*K$1+H4*M$1
=D5*C$1+E5*E$1+F5*G$1+G5*K$1+H5*M$1
6
=D6*C$1+E6*E$1+F6*G$1+G6*K$1+H6*M$1
7
=D7*C$1+E7*E$1+F7*G$1+G7*K$1+H7*M$1
8
=D8*C$1+E8*E$1+F8*G$1+G8*K$1+H8*M$1
4
• See how you can get the total! If you easily want
to change the weighting, go to C1, or E1 or G1 etc.
• Notice the use of absolute K$1 and relative D4, G4,
etc., addressing. Relative shifts with where you copy it
but absolute fixes column or row (or both)
Excel Grade sheet
J
3
Grade
5
=IF(I4>80, "A", (IF(I4>70, "B", IF(I4>65, "C", IF(I4>60, "D", IF(I4<60, "F
=IF(I5>80, "A", (IF(I5>70, "B", IF(I5>65, "C", IF(I5>60, "D", IF(I5<60, "F
6
=IF(I6>80, "A", (IF(I6>70, "B", IF(I6>65, "C", IF(I6>60, "D", IF(I6<60, "F
7
=IF(I7>80, "A", (IF(I7>70, "B", IF(I7>65, "C", IF(I7>60, "D", IF(I7<60, "F
8
=IF(I8>80, "A", (IF(I8>70, "B", IF(I8>65, "C", IF(I8>60, "D", IF(I8<60, "F
4
• Notice the use of the IF statement …IF(test, true, false)
Summary
 Learn
 Use
to use a spreadsheet
its formatting capability
 Use its mathematical functions
 Use its relative and absolute addressing
 Use its logical functions
 Use lots more!