Vocabulary and Concepts

Introduction to Spreadsheets

Spreadsheet

A computer application program that arranges data

into columns and rows. This program is designed

to work with numbers because of its ability to

calculate.

Examples:

Workbook A spreadsheet file. By default a workbook contains

three worksheets.

Drawing:

Worksheet A single sheet or spreadsheet in MS Excel. There are

three worksheets within a workbook. You can switch worksheets by clicking on the worksheet tab at the bottom left of your screen.

Drawing/Notes:

Worksheet Tabs

Row

A horizontal (side by side) layout of boxes. A

number identifies a row in a spreadsheet

program.

Notes:

1,2,3,4, etc.

ROW

Column A vertical (up and down) layout of boxes. A letter

identifies a column in a spreadsheet program.

Notes:

A, B, C, D, etc.

Cell

A single block in a spreadsheet.

Drawing:

Cell

Cell Address

The location of a cell on a spreadsheet. It is

identified by the column letter followed by the row

number.

Example:

A1

Formula Bar

The bar at the top of the spreadsheet used to

enter or edit data within a particular cell.

Drawing:

Data Types in Spreadsheet.

Value—A number.

Example: 14

Label—Data entered as text, like a word or a letter

Example: Color

Formula--A mathematical statement. A formula

always begins with an equal sign (=). This tells the

computer to perform a specific calculation.

Example: =MIN(B4:B9)

Label

Formul

a

Value

Function A function is a preset formula in MS Excel. Like formulas,

functions begin with the equal sign ( = ) followed by the function's name and its arguments. The function name tells Excel what calculation to perform. The arguments are contained inside round brackets.

Examples: SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MAX

Common

Functions

AutoSum

A formula that adds up a large group of numbers

at one time.

Drawing:

Chart

A pictorial representation of data.

Examples:

Column

Line

Pie

Bar

Format Cells

Format Cells not only allows you to change the font

styles, sizes, color, borders, and alignment but it

allows you to identify a certain type of number

format.

Examples:

Currency

Accounting

Date

Time

Sort

A feature that organizes information in ascending

or descending order.

Drawings:

Before After