Spreadsheet Fundamentals
Key Terms
- Cell - Intersection of a row and column (e.g., A1, B2)
- Formula - Calculation using cell references (e.g., =B2*C2)
- Function - Pre-built formula (e.g., =SUM(B2:B10))
- Label - Text used to identify data
- Worksheet - Single sheet within a workbook
- Range - Group of cells (e.g., A1:C10)
Common Functions
| Function | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SUM | Adds values | =SUM(A1:A10) |
| AVERAGE | Calculates mean | =AVERAGE(B1:B10) |
| COUNT | Counts numbers | =COUNT(C1:C10) |
| COUNTIF | Counts with condition | =COUNTIF(A1:A10,">5") |
| MAX/MIN | Finds largest/smallest | =MAX(D1:D10) |
| VLOOKUP | Vertical lookup | =VLOOKUP(A2,Table,2,FALSE) |
| IF | Conditional logic | =IF(A1>50,"Pass","Fail") |
Formula vs Function
Formula: =B2*C2 - Uses operators and cell references
Function: =SUM(B2:B10) - Uses a built-in named function
Charts
- Column/Bar - Compare quantities across categories
- Line - Show trends over time
- Pie - Show parts of a whole (percentages)