Excel Discussion Questions

Excel Seminar 1 Discussion Questions

1. It takes time, ink, and paper to print a worksheet. Brainstorm reasons for wanting a hard copy of a worksheet created in Excel.

For me, I need to make hard copies at work for when I go to meetings and I need to show the results of the research I did using excel. It all depends on what kind of a file you created in Excel. I sometimes create charts or just lists for inventory and have a running total for the costs. At times, it is necessary to print so others can review easily.

1. Although electronic spreadsheets were introduced less than 50 years ago, people have created spreadsheets by hand for hundreds of years. What are the advantages of creating an automated spreadsheet, rather than a handwritten one? How does the capability to recalculate automatically when values change make an electronic spreadsheet more valuable than a spreadsheet created by hand?

The biggest reason and advantage that comes to mind is the accuracy. I have some knowledge with formulas, and I find them extremely helpful when I need to calculate totals. You can have spreadsheets set up with complex macros and formulas that change totals automatically, while it would take a bit of thinking and  work to do manually.

1. Open textbook to page 92 and choose 5 key terms. Define the term and explain where you would use this feature in an Excel worksheet.

Absolute Cell Reference: An absolute cell reference identifies the location of a cell or group of cells. You would use this in spreadsheets that have more than one formula being used for calculation. The cell with the absolute cell reference will not allow the contents to change.

Column Chart: A column chart illustrates comparisons among related numbers. You would use a column chart to show a comparison of data over time, the columns can be present data simply and easily.

Name Box: A name box displays the name of the selected cell, table, chart or object. You would use a name box as a reference to make it easier to understand the purpose what is entered into that location of the spreadsheet.

Label: A label is a text value. It usually provides information about number values in other worksheet cells. You would use a label as the title of a chart. The label would give you information about what data is being shown in the chart.

Rounding: Rounding is a procedure that determines which digit at the right of the number will be the last digit displayed and then increases it by one if the next digit to the right is a 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. You would use the rounding feature if you wanted to show a clearer number to work with. $10 is easier is work with than $9.95.