Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc) are powerful tools for organising, calculating, and visualising data. This topic covers formulas, functions, charts, and data analysis techniques.
Formulas start with =. Cell references: =A1+B1 adds two cells. Functions: =SUM(A1:A10) adds a range, =AVERAGE(B1:B10) finds mean, =COUNT(A1:A10) counts numbers, =MAX(), =MIN(). IF function: =IF(A1>=40,"Pass","Fail"). Absolute reference: $A$1 (doesn't change when copied). Relative: A1 (adjusts when copied). Fill handle: drag formula to apply to multiple rows.
Charts: select data → Insert → Chart. Types: bar/column (compare categories), line (trends over time), pie (proportion of whole). Sorting: arrange by column (A-Z, Z-A, smallest-largest). Filtering: show only rows meeting criteria. Conditional formatting: colour cells based on rules (e.g., red if < 40). Data analysis workflow: enter data → clean → formula → chart → insight.
A formula is any calculation you create using cell references and operators (=A1+B1*C1). A function is a pre-built, named formula that performs a specific task (=SUM(A1:A10), =AVERAGE(B1:B5)). Functions are a type of formula. You can combine them: =SUM(A1:A5) + B1 uses both a function and an operator. Functions save time and reduce errors for common calculations.
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