Computer Lab

Exercise #1:
Introduction to Excel.
Do any exercises you need to learn.
Hint: when working with real data, always have a back-up or original version saved before you start
altering the data set.
1. Introduction to xcel
!pen up the xcel "rogra#.
$ave the file as exercise1.xls. %file-save as& and save into your class folder.
'a#ing and saving files is the sa#e as for ($ )ord.

*. ntering data
nter in the data fro# the surveys for the following people:
+he top row is the colu#n heading and each row after that is known as a record, and you have one
row for each record %also known as a case, or respondent&.
'a#e ,ge $ex -rade (other .ather
,nna 1* . / ho#e prison
0eff 11 # 2 ho#e prison
3eisha 4 f 5 prison deceased
+aylor 11 # 6 prison no contact
$arah 17 f 8 ho#e prison
7. .or#ulas.
In the row after $arah %row /&, in the cell in the colu#n for age %D/&, we will calculate average
grade. +here are two ways to do this, using the 9function: sign key, or writing the algorith#
directly into the cell where you want the average to appear.
i. .unction 3ey
,. ;ook for the function sign fx in the tool bar. <lick on it. It should open up a #enu, click
on ,=>,-, then !3. In the box for '?(@> 1 you should see the cells listed that
have the ages. %e.g., d*:d6& and also the values are listed to the right of the #enu box.
A/B2B5B6B8C.
@. <lick on !3 and you will see the average age calculated in the cell.
ii. ,lgorith#
+he second way is writing out the co##and in the cell where you want the calculation to appear.
In other words, in cell D/
type =average(d2:d6 or alternatively =average(d2 d! d" d# d6 and tab out of
the box. Dou should get 6 as your answer.
Exercises:
a. +ry calculating the average for ,ge.
b. +ry doing the su# of the above nu#bers using the function sign and also the for#ula =sum( .
5. $orting Data
'ow, sort the na#es by alphabetical order.
Do this by highlighting all of the data cells.
'ow click on D,+, then $!>+. In the #enu box, sort by colu#n , %na#e& %it:ll say <olu#n ,
if the box for header is not checked, but if it is checked, then you:ll see sort by 'a#e&. click on
ok.
Exercises
a. $ort by sex, ascending %so fe#ales first, because . is before ( in the alphabet&
b. +ry sorting by highlighting Eust one of the colu#ns. Dou:ll be pro#pted to expand the
selection. (ake sure that option is checked, and then click on $ort.
2. Insert a row
In the first row of the #ales %line 2&, #ove your cursor to the left #ost colu#n on the spreadsheet
that displays the row nu#ber %2&. <lick on that to highlight the line. +hen go to I'$>+ and
click on >!).
<alculate the average age for fe#ales and the average age for #ales %if using the function key,
#ake sure the #enu includes the correct cells for averaging&.
6. ,dd a worksheet
'ow, create a new table on another worksheet %you will have been working in worksheet 1. If there is no
other worksheet, go up to I'$>+ and add a worksheet&.
/. >ena#e worksheets
>ight click on the worksheet na#e %sheet 1& and select >ena#e. It:s now blackened outFyou
can now type the new na#e %e.g., 9original:&. <lick on any cell to leave rena#ing.
8. (aking a bar chart.
"ut sex in one colu#n and average age in the next, as is done below:
f 5.67
m 6.5
Highlight these cells and click on the <hart icon, or if you don:t see one, click on I'$>+ G <H,>+.
.ollow the defaults and Eust click next until you get to finish.
Dou should get this if you click on the first colu#n chart:
5
5.2
5.4
5.6
5.8
6
6.2
6.4
Female Male
Series1
,dd value labels: >ight click on the bar itself. <lick on .!>(,+ D,+, $>I$ G
;,@;$ G ;abel <ontains G =,;?. <lick on !3.
.or#at labels: right click on the labels. <lick on .ont to change font, or 'u#ber to change
the kind of nu#ber it is. "lay around with this a bit.
<hange colors of bars: >ight click on the bar itself. <lick on .!>(,+ D,+, $>I$ -
",++>'$, and choose a different color fro# the palette. Dou:ll see that the violet color has
a blue border around it to indicate that it:s the current color.
Exercises:
a. <hange the color of the plot area %which is now grey&.
b. $tart with a table like this: +hen right click on the legend and explore the possibilities.
Grade
Female 5.67
Male 6.5
4. (aking a pie chart.
$tart with this table: %7 children are girls, and * are boys&
female 3
male 2
.ollowing the steps for #aking a @ar <hart this ti#e #ake a pie chart.
Exercises:
a. (ake a pie chart for whether the #other is at ho#e or in prison.
b. xtra credit: (ake a pie chart for 0ust #other in prison, 0ust father in prison, both in prison and
!ther.
+?>' I' xercises. If there is nothing to show %e.g., for the rena#ing worksheets& Eust indicate that you
did it successfully. +he purpose for you to learn this software, but anyone who has used any software
will know that so#e know #ore than others, and everyone knows so#ething that others don:t.