Lesson 29 — Activity 2:

Functions of a Spreadsheet


In this activity, you will practise using spreadsheets to solve addition and subtraction problems. A spreadsheet is an electronic document where data is arranged in rows and columns. The data in a spreadsheet can be used to make calculations.

Add the numbers 10, 20, 25, 30, 40, and 45 using pencil and paper or a calculator. What answer did you get?

Now enter these numbers into the spreadsheet below. Start at the top and watch the number at the bottom change as you make more entries.

  A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 0


What is the result? It should have been the same. Look at the formula view to see how it added these numbers.

Spreadsheets can be used for any type of mathematical operation, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and others. The calculations can be very short or very long. Numbers can be changed at any time.

In the examples below, the formula view is given first, and then the regular view.

Add these dollar values: $4278.98, $256.78, $5678.00, and $21.23.



Subtract the following numbers: 895.25 from 1280.00 and 789.92 from 650.25.



Multiply the following numbers: 56.7 × 34.4 and 2345 × 145.


Self-check!

Try This!

Click here to download a spreadsheet document that you must use to complete the practice questions located in the link below.

Open the spreadsheet, and then do the following:

  1. Enter 5 into A1, 6 into A2, and =SUM(A1,A2) into A3. What is the result?
  2. Enter 8.5 into A1, 6.75 into A2, and =SUM(A1-A2) into A3. What is the result?
  3. Enter 6.75 into A1, 8.5 into A2, and =SUM(A1-A2) into A3. Is the result the same as in question 2? *Be sure to delete any other entries.
  4. Enter 450 into A1, 12 into B1, and =A1*B1 into C1. What is the result? *Be sure to delete any other entries.
  5. Enter 12 into A1, 450 into B1, and =A1*B2 into C1. Is the result the same as in question 4?

Digging Deeper!

Click on the Play button below to watch a video to review the basics of Excel spreadsheets and to learn how to use formulas in a basic spreadsheet.


Images courtesy of www.imagesgoogle.com