A Spreadsheet is a computer program that allows you to enter Data into a Worksheet (which looks like a table!). You will be using a Spreadsheet called Microsoft Excel.
The data that you enter into a Spreadsheet can be text, numbers or formulae. As you will soon see, Spreadsheets are excellent tools for modelling information because they allow you to easily edit and sort your data as well as perform calculations and link data together.
A Spreadsheet is made up one or more Worksheets, the example below has 3 (Sheet 1 etc). Each worksheet is made up of Rows, which go from left to right, and Columns that go from top to bottom. Rows are indicated by numbers and columns by letters.
Data can be entered into small squares, which are called Cells. Each Cell has an Address, for example, in the image below, the word Total is in cell E1. The easiest way to put data into a cell is simply to click into it and then type.
Formulas can be placed in cells to perform a wide range of calculations. Formula can be recognised because they start with an =
As you can see from below the formula =SUM(C2:D2) has been used to add together the values from cell C2 to cell D2. |
