Spreadsheets:

A Dynamic Path to
Understanding Math
creating and extending patterns (without formulas)

creating and extending patterns with formulas

data analysis

sliders (scroll bars)

resources
 Spreadsheets:
A Dynamic Path to
Understanding Math
creating and extending patterns (without formulas)
colors, letters, numbers
arithmetic sequences

creating and extending patterns with formulas

c=a+b
special sequences
grains of rice
compound interest

data analysis
sort data
graph data: bar graphs, pictographs, pie charts…
mean, median, and mode
filter data (using sample growth data)
conversions

sliders (scroll bars)

function machine with hidden formula and line graph
resources
Web resources
how to
glossary
big ideas and other notes
 presented at NCTM Baltimore Oct. 2010
by Wendy Petti
wpetti@mathcats.com

random numbers
find square roots
dice rolls and frequency table
create bingo boards
estimation activity

other applications
magic squares
self-checking quiz
comments: create a dynamic lesson
word art
create a brick wall pattern with merged cells
math magic
cats puzzle

Pascal's triangle
Pascal's triangle 1
Pascal's triangle 2
Pascal's triangle 3
Pascal's triangle puzzle
Pascal's triangle and Fibonacci numbers
Pascal's triangle and triangular numbers
 extending repeating patterns

Use "fill color" to create a color

pattern. Click and drag right, then
down, to extend the pattern.
Try it with a repeating pattern of
letters or numbers.
(Notice, you can also insert
graphics, format text, merge cells,
add borders, add hyperlinks...)

M A T H
A T H M
ns
From just these four cells, you can click and drag to make an instant

1 2
2 4
rag to make an instant multiplication grid. Try extending other arithmetic sequ

1 3
3 5
other arithmetic sequences.

3 6
6 9
You can write formulas to do "instant math"
for self-quizzing, magic squares, calculating
averages, etc. Here, the formulas are in
column E. You can click and drag to extend a
formula into other cells.

3 + 4 = 7
3 + 5 = 8
You can use formulas to create and extend geometric sequences or special seq
Type = to start a formula. Click on a cell to include it. Hit Enter/Return to end a
(To extend a pattern of formulas, click and drag from the second column to the
Use * for multiplication, / for division.
The sample pattern below is the beginning of a multiplication table.)
Ideas:
arithmetic sequences (ex: 3, 6, 9…; 59, 55, 51...)
geometric sequences (ex: 1, 2, 4, 8…; 24, 12, 6,
3…)
triangular numbers (1, 3, 6, 10…)
square numbers (1, 4, 9, 16…)
cube numbers (1, 8, 27, 64…)
Fibonacci numbers (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2 4
3 6
4 8
5 10
6 12 1 2 3 4 5
7 14 1 8 27 64 125
8 16
9 18
10 20
nces or special sequences.
ter/Return to end a formula.
ond column to the right, and/or from the second row down.

table.)

10

6 7
216 343
 Do you know the story of One Grain of Rice (or The King's Chessboard)?
The king and a helpful subject agree on a reward of one grain of rice, to b
doubled each day for 30 (or 64) days. How many grains of rice will be giv
on the 30th day? the 64th day? How many grains of rice will be given in a

After you set up the formulas for the first two rows, you only need to click and drag each
formula from the second row downward. To extend the numbered days, enter 1 and 2, sel
both, then click and drag. To insert the comma separator, click a letter to highlight the
column. Click Format -> Cells -> Number and then click the box next to "Use comma
separator." Also change # of decimal digits to 0.
day number of grains that day
1 1
2 2
3 4
Grain of Rice (or The King's Chessboard)?
agree on a reward of one grain of rice, to be
days. How many grains of rice will be given
How many grains of rice will be given in all?

first two rows, you only need to click and drag each
d. To extend the numbered days, enter 1 and 2, select
the comma separator, click a letter to highlight the
umber and then click the box next to "Use comma
change # of decimal digits to 0.
total number of grains
1
3
7
 computing compound interest
Click and drag to extend the calculations of annual
interest and total value.

initial investment $5,000.00

% interest 5%
%
year interest annual compound interest total value of investment
0 5% $250.00 $5,250.00
1 $262.50 $5,512.50
2 $275.63 $5,788.13
3 $289.41 $6,077.53
4 $303.88 $6,381.41
5 $319.07 $6,700.48
6 $335.02 $7,035.50
7 $351.78 $7,387.28
8 $369.36 $7,756.64
9 $387.83 $8,144.47
10 $407.22 $8,551.70
11 $427.58 $8,979.28
12 $448.96 $9,428.25
13 $471.41 $9,899.66
14 $494.98 $10,394.64
15 $519.73 $10,914.37
16 $545.72 $11,460.09
17 $573.00 $12,033.10
18 $601.65 $12,634.75
19 $631.74 $13,266.49
20 $663.32 $13,929.81
21 $696.49 $14,626.30
22 $731.32 $15,357.62
23 $767.88 $16,125.50
24 $806.27 $16,931.77
25 $846.59 $17,778.36
26 $888.92 $18,667.28
27 $933.36 $19,600.65
28 $980.03 $20,580.68
29 $1,029.03 $21,609.71
30 $1,080.49 $22,690.20
31 $1,134.51 $23,824.71
32 $1,191.24 $25,015.94
33 $1,250.80 $26,266.74
34 $1,313.34 $27,580.08
35 $1,379.00 $28,959.08
36 $1,447.95 $30,407.03
37 $1,520.35 $31,927.39
38 $1,596.37 $33,523.76
39 $1,676.19 $35,199.94
40 $1,760.00 $36,959.94
41 $1,848.00 $38,807.94
42 $1,940.40 $40,748.33
43 $2,037.42 $42,785.75
44 $2,139.29 $44,925.04
45 $2,246.25 $47,171.29
46 $2,358.56 $49,529.86
47 $2,476.49 $52,006.35
48 $2,600.32 $54,606.67
49 $2,730.33 $57,337.00
50 $2,866.85 $60,203.85
51 $3,010.19 $63,214.04
52 $3,160.70 $66,374.74
53 $3,318.74 $69,693.48
54 $3,484.67 $73,178.15
55 $3,658.91 $76,837.06
56 $3,841.85 $80,678.92
57 $4,033.95 $84,712.86
58 $4,235.64 $88,948.50
59 $4,447.43 $93,395.93
60 $4,669.80 $98,065.73
61 $4,903.29 $102,969.01
62 $5,148.45 $108,117.46
63 $5,405.87 $113,523.34
64 $5,676.17 $119,199.50
65 $5,959.98 $125,159.48
66 $6,257.97 $131,417.45
67 $6,570.87 $137,988.32
68 $6,899.42 $144,887.74
69 $7,244.39 $152,132.13
70 $7,606.61 $159,738.73
71 $7,986.94 $167,725.67
72 $8,386.28 $176,111.95
73 $8,805.60 $184,917.55
74 $9,245.88 $194,163.43
75 $9,708.17 $203,871.60
76 $10,193.58 $214,065.18
77 $10,703.26 $224,768.44
78 $11,238.42 $236,006.86
79 $11,800.34 $247,807.21
80 $12,390.36 $260,197.57
81 $13,009.88 $273,207.44
82 $13,660.37 $286,867.82
83 $14,343.39 $301,211.21
84 $15,060.56 $316,271.77
85 $15,813.59 $332,085.36
86 $16,604.27 $348,689.62
87 $17,434.48 $366,124.10
 88 $18,306.21 $384,430.31
89 $19,221.52 $403,651.83
90 $20,182.59 $423,834.42
91 $21,191.72 $445,026.14
92 $22,251.31 $467,277.44
93 $23,363.87 $490,641.32
94 $24,532.07 $515,173.38
95 $25,758.67 $540,932.05
96 $27,046.60 $567,978.65
97 $28,398.93 $596,377.59
98 $29,818.88 $626,196.47
99 $31,309.82 $657,506.29
100 $32,875.31 $690,381.60
101 $34,519.08 $724,900.68
 Sort data

kangaroo eagle
Click on a column letter to select one colum
giraffe gerbil depending on your needs. Click Data -> So
goose giraffe
In the first example, column B was sorted in
mouse goose list of animals.
hamster hamster Scroll down for more data to practice with.
tiger kangaroo
lion leopard
monkey lion
Ideas:
gerbil monkey
If you create columns for last name, first nam
leopard mouse for an alphabetized bibliography.
penguin penguin You can order a list of students according to
polar bear polar bear
Organize data collected in a unit of inquiry.
eagle rabbit
rabbit tiger

first name last name score gender

Harry Potter 79 M Highlight all of the data in
Tom Sawyer 65 M columns. Select Sort,
Mary Poppins 83 F ascending order. The co
Jane Eyre 96 F move alo
Cowardly Lion 82 M
Stuart Little 74 M
Curious George 51 M
Snow White 77 F
Mickey Mouse 48 M
 tter to select one column, or sort all of the columns,
needs. Click Data -> Sort.

column B was sorted in ascending order to alphabetize the

e data to practice with.

ns for last name, first name, and book title, you can sort books
bibliography.

of students according to quiz scores.

cted in a unit of inquiry.

Highlight all of the data in the first name, last name, and score
columns. Select Sort, then sort by last name (column B) in
ascending order. The corresponding first name and score will
move along with the last name.
 favorit

favorite sport boys girls

soccer 7 6 baseball

basketball 3 5
basketball
baseball 6 3
soccer

You can turn a graph into a pictogram! See

0 1 2 3
number of stu
http://teach.fcps.net/trt10/Documents/Pictogram.pdf

favorite sport - boys

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
soccer basketball baseball
3
2
1
0
soccer basketball baseball
 favorite sport

baseball

boys
basketball girls

soccer

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
number of students

favorite sport - boys soccer

basketbal
l
baseball

baseball soccer

basketball
Finding Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
using functions

Summer Reading
number of
date book pages read
6/29/2009 Charlotte's Web 65
6/30/2009 Charlotte's Web 49
7/1/2009 Charlotte's Web 52
7/2/2009 Stuart Little 47
7/3/2009 Stuart Little 36
7/4/2009 Stuart Little 52
7/5/2009 Stuart Little 27
7/6/2009 Treasury of Children's Poetry 16
7/7/2009 The Little Prince 96
7/8/2009 Harry Potter 43
7/9/2009 Harry Potter 26
7/10/2009 Harry Potter 47
7/11/2009 Harry Potter 28
7/12/2009 Harry Potter 31
7/13/2009 Harry Potter 22
7/14/2009 Harry Potter 75
7/15/2009 Harry Potter 48
7/16/2009 Harry Potter 29
To find the mean, use the
AVERAGE or AVERAGEA
function.
To find range, subtract the
MIN value from the MAX
value.

mean 43.83
MEDIAN 45
MODE 47
MIN 16
MAX 96
range 80
 height in inches, in decimal units height in fractional units
growth,
Sept. -
9/5/07 12/11/07 3/10/2008 Mar. 9/5/07 12/11/07 3/10/08

Boy A 51.00 52.00 52.50 1.50 4' 3" 4' 4" 4' 4 1/2"

Girl A 54.56 55.06 56.13 1.57 4' 6 9/16" 4' 7 1/16" 4' 8 1/8"

Girl B 57.00 57.50 58.31 1.31 4' 9" 4' 9 1/2" 4' 10 5/16"

Girl C 59.69 60.38 61.44 1.75 4' 11 11/16" 5' 0 3/8" 5' 1 7/16"

Girl D 51.13 52.00 52.50 1.37 4' 3 1/8" 4' 4" 4' 4 1/2"

Girl E 52.50 53.31 53.88 1.38 4' 4 1/2" 4' 5 5/16" 4' 5 7/8"

Girl F 51.13 51.75 52.13 1.00 4' 3 1/8" 4' 3 3/4" 4' 4 1/8"

Girl G 54.56 55.19 56.13 1.57 4' 6 9/16" 4' 7 3/16" 4' 8 1/8"

Boy B 50.38 50.94 51.31 0.93 4' 2 3/8" 4' 2 15/16" 4' 3 5/16"

Boy C 56.38 57.00 57.63 1.25 4' 8 3/8" 4' 9" 4' 9 5/8"

Girl H 54.25 54.88 56.13 1.88 4' 6 1/4" 4' 6 7/8" 4' 8 1/8"

Girl J 54.50 54.94 55.44 0.94 4' 6" 4' 6 15/16" 4' 7 7/16"

Boy D 54.44 54.94 55.56 1.12 4' 6 7/16" 4' 6 15/16" 4' 7 9/16"

Girl K 55.19 55.88 56.50 1.31 4' 7 3/16" 4' 7 7/8" 4' 8 1/2"

Boy E 54.63 55.13 55.50 0.87 4' 6 5/8" 4' 7 1/8" 4' 7 1/2"

Boy F 57.25 58.00 58.44 1.19 4' 9 1/4" 4' 10" 4' 10 7/16"

Girl L 57.38 58.25 58.75 1.37 4' 9 3/8" 4' 10 1/4" 4' 10 3/4"
Total Midyear Population for the
World: 1950-2050

Avg Annual
Avg Annual
Year Population Pop
Growth %
Change

population growth, 1950-2050

10000000000
8000000000
6000000000
4000000000
2000000000
0
1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 41 46 51 56 61 66 71 76 81
1950 2555898461 1.44 37144864
1951 2593043325 1.61 42057256
1952 2635100581 1.71 45337035
1953 2680437616 1.77 47859766
1954 2728297382 1.87 51360701

1955 2779658083 1.88 52877941

1956 2832536024 1.95 55742487
1957 2888278511 1.93 56420002
1958 2944698513 1.76 52248473
1959 2996946986 1.39 41983405
1960 3038930391 1.33 40622370
1961 3079552761 1.80 56007855
1962 3135560616 2.19 69393370
1963 3204953986 2.19 70987231
1964 3275941217 2.08 68914708

1965 3344855925 2.07 70125661

1966 3414981586 2.02 69635676
1967 3484617262 2.04 71737649
1968 3556354911 2.07 74520140
1969 3630875051 2.05 75112641

1970 3705987692 2.07 77455125

1971 3783442817 2.02 77162596
1972 3860605413 1.97 76659760
1973 3937265173 1.91 76106218
1974 4013371391 1.83 74011087

1975 4087382478 1.76 72480767

1976 4159863245 1.73 72715853
1977 4232579098 1.70 72726422
1978 4305305520 1.74 75661952
1979 4380967472 1.73 76626011

1980 4457593483 1.71 76685744

1981 4534279227 1.76 80281378
1982 4614560605 1.73 80300897
1983 4694861502 1.67 79218167
1984 4774079669 1.67 80579428

1985 4854659097 1.68 82440048

1986 4937099145 1.72 85847318
1987 5022946463 1.71 86548835
1988 5109495298 1.65 84831421
1989 5194326719 1.67 87346254
1990 5281672973 1.58 84052073
1991 5365725046 1.52 82416723
1992 5448141769 1.48 81228260
1993 5529370029 1.44 80308790
1994 5609678819 1.44 81334070

1995 5691012889 1.41 80925549

1996 5771938438 1.38 80272274
1997 5852210712 1.36 79847627
1998 5932058339 1.33 79617592
1999 6011675931 1.31 79236983

2000 6090912914 1.28 78770343

2001 6169683257 1.26 78372582
2002 6248055839 1.24 77935999
2003 6325991838 1.22 77488816
2004 6403480654 1.20 77019657

2005 6480500311 1.18 76719765

2006 6557220076 1.16 76613520
2007 6633833596 1.15 76492056
2008 6710325652 1.13 76349499
2009 6786675151 1.12 76121397

2010 6862796548 1.10 75959363

2011 6938755911 1.09 75824282
2012 7014580193 1.07 75461257
2013 7090041450 1.05 74928194
2014 7164969644 1.03 74268561

2015 7239238205 1.01 73674043

2016 7312912248 1.00 73168388
2017 7386080636 0.98 72579118
2018 7458659754 0.96 71926045
2019 7530585799 0.94 71200110
2020 7601785909 0.92 70532009
2021 7672317918 0.91 69921293
2022 7742239211 0.89 69219563
2023 7811458774 0.87 68468296
2024 7879927070 0.86 67674910

2025 7947601980 0.84 66988193

2026 8014590173 0.83 66410326
2027 8081000499 0.81 65772911
2028 8146773410 0.80 65125122
2029 8211898532 0.78 64477205

2030 8276375737 0.77 63839842

2031 8340215579 0.75 63178143
2032 8403393722 0.74 62398148
2033 8465791870 0.72 61573304
2034 8527365174 0.71 60749436

2035 8588114610 0.70 59897749

2036 8648012359 0.68 58982186
2037 8706994545 0.66 57921248
2038 8764915793 0.65 56800440
2039 8821716233 0.63 55714522

2040 8877430755 0.61 54631637

2041 8932062392 0.60 53515062
2042 8985577454 0.58 52270945
2043 9037848399 0.56 50978803
2044 9088827202 0.55 49753936

2045 9138581138 0.53 48551751

2046 9187132889 0.51 47328551
2047 9234461440 0.50 45981701
2048 9280443141 0.48 44561746
2049 9325004887 0.46 43218163
 2050 9368223050

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, International Data Base.

Updated 5-15-96
 Math Forum Data http://mathforum.org/workshops/sum96/data.collections/datalibrary/world.pop.XL.zip.xls

population trends http://www.prb.org/Datafinder/Topic/List.aspx?category=10

World Resources http://earthtrends.wri.org/datatables/index.php?theme=4
Population Connection http://www.populationeducation.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=4

growth, 1950-2050

46 51 56 61 66 71 76 81 86 91 96 101 106 111 116 121

.pop.XL.zip.xls

=view&id=51&Itemid=4
 conversions
linear measurement conversions
You can use the CONVERT function or input the conversions yourself.
In this spreadsheet, columns B and C are independent of each other.
miles 1 0.62137119224
yards 1,760 1,093.6132983
feet 5,280 3,280.839895
inches 63,360 39,370.07874
centimeters 160,934.40 100,000
meters 1,609.3440 1,000
kilometers 1.609344 1

other conversion possibilities:

volume, within and between systems
mass, within and between systems
money conversions - in different currencies
time conversions (hours -> minutes, minutes -> hours)
rsions yourself.
endent of each other.
 This activity uses hidden formulas on the
fu
protected "hidden" sheet.

There is also a linked cell (V8) on this sheet that displays the actual value of the
slider. Sliders cannot go below 0. But if we subtract 10 from the linked cell and
display this value near the slider (in this case, as the value of X), we've created a
slider that appears to go below 0.

machine 1 1

Function Machine 1 x y
input output 2 5
X Y 15 44
1 2 -10 -31
30 89
17 50

y
Function Machine 2
input output
X Y
1 5.5
-20 -10
-

-
 function machine 1

100

90

80

70

60

50

40
y

30

20

10

0
-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40
-10

-20

-30

-40
x
11
 hidden formulas for function machines
Notice that you cannot make any changes to this page or see any formulas.
The formulas are hidden and the sheet is protected with a password. (The
password is math.) This sheet stores data that is used on the "sliders"
worksheet.

machine 1 2
machine 2 5.5
 machines
ge or see any formulas.
with a password. (The
used on the "sliders"
 Random Number Generation
This sheet uses the RANDBETWEEN and FREQUENCY func
(See Help menu for details on set-up.)

RANDBETWEEN(a,b)
Ideas:
Create math bingo boards, simulate coin flips or dice rolls,
generate number problems, compare experimental and theoretica
probability.

frequency of sum of 2 dice

after 30 rolls
frequency

8
6
4
2
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1
sum of 2 rolled dice
 neration
FREQUENCY functions.
on set-up.)
Press F9 (PC) or COMMAND-=
(Mac)
to generate 30 new rolls
RANDBETWEEN(1,6) (2 dice per roll).

or dice rolls,
mental and theoretical
"A" "B" sum bin_array frequency
4 3 7 1 0

dice 1 4 5 2 1
1 3 4 3 2
2 6 8 4 4
3 4 7 5 3
1 5 6 6 5
2 5 7 7 7
4 1 5 8 4
4 3 7 9 2
2 5 7 10 2
5 4 9 11 0
5 5 10 12 0
1 1 2 0
2 1 3
3 4 7
1 3 4
5 4 9
8 9 10 11 12
1 5 6
1 4 5
1 2 3
3 3 6
2 6 8
5 2 7
6 2 8
2 4 6
6 2 8
1 3 4
2 4 6
3 1 4
4 6 10
1 1 2
 MATH
B I N G O
11 28
10 22
2 17
9 16
8 21
 Magic Square -
Can you place the numbers 1 - 16 in the yellow
square so that they make the same sum along each
row, column, and 4-square diagonal?

0
0
0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0
For a bigger challenge, change the
number range. Ex: 49 - 65 or the
odd numbers in a 30-point range.

1 16 12 5
8 9 13 2
14 3 6 10
11 7 4 14
(Does this arrangement work? Can
you tweak it?)
 Self-Checking Quiz
http://www.shermanisd.net/Instruction/Technology_Integration/Excel_Integration_index.html

Excellent Fun
Name:
Date:
Click in the Answer column, type your answer, then press Enter to
see how you did and go on to the next question.

Problem Answer

1) 36 + 89 =

2) What property can you use to

find the product?
3 x 17 = (3 x 10) + (3 x 7) = ?
A) Associative
B) Commutative
C) Distributive
D) Zero
SCORE:
 We will hide column E.

Fun
swer, then press Enter to
e next question.

Check

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
 0
0
0
0
 Finding Square Roots
Yes, there is a SQRT function! But it's fun to derive a square root using
the guess-and-check method or the Babylonian method.

In the Babylonian method, we make a random guess between 0 and the

target number. After that, the new guess is the average of the divisor and
quotient.
Babylonian Method of Finding Square Roots
(using 1000 as the target number,
and a randomly-generated starting guess)
average of
target target number /
guess divisor and
number guess
quotient
1000 73 13.62423964386820 43.51141556758950
43.51141556758950 22.98247452893430 33.24694504826190
33.24694504826190 30.07795147940300 31.66244826383250
31.66244826383250 31.58315464639180 31.62280145511210
31.62280145511210 31.62275174827500 31.62277660169360
31.62277660169360 31.62277660167400 31.62277660168380
31.62277660168380 31.62277660168380 31.62277660168380
31.62277660168380 31.62277660168380 31.62277660168380

Press F9 (PC) or COMMAND-= (Mac) to generate a new

random starting guess.
See also: http://themathplace.org/shoulders/NewtonSquareRootAlg/NewtonSquareRootAlg.html

square root guesses

80
70
60
50
40
30
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

number of guesses
ts
rive a square root using
bylonian method.

uess between 0 and the

verage of the divisor and

uare Roots
mber, finding the square root of 7 by
ng guess) guess-and-check

square of average square of the

guess guess
1893.24328469547000 2.5 6.25
1105.35935504215000 2.7 7.29
1002.51063005987000 2.6 6.76
1000.00157186944000 2.65 7.0225
1000.00000000062000 2.645 6.996025
1000.00000000000000 2.6457 6.999728490000000
1000.00000000000000 2.6458 7.000257640000000
1000.00000000000000 2.64575 6.999993062500000
2.64576 7.000045977600000

o generate a new
2.645755 7.000019520025000
onSquareRootAlg.html 2.645751 6.999998354001000
2.645752 7.000003645504000
2.6457515 7.000000999752250
2.6457513 6.999999941451690
2.6457514 7.000000470601960
2.64575131 6.999999994366720
2.64575132 7.000000047281740
2.645751315 7.000000020824230
2.645751313 7.000000010241220
2.645751312 7.000000004949720
2.645751311 6.999999999658220
2.645751311500000 7.000000002303970
2.645751311300000 7.000000001245670
2.645751311100000 7.000000000187370
 2.645751311050000 6.999999999922800
2.645751311080000 7.000000000081540
2.645751311060000 6.999999999975710
2.645751311070000 7.000000000028630
2.645751311065000 7.000000000002170
2.645751311063000 6.999999999991580
2.645751311064000 6.999999999996880
2.645751311064500 6.999999999999520
2.645751311064800 7.000000000001110
6 7 8 2.645751311064700 7.000000000000580
2.645751311064600 7.000000000000050
2.645751311064570 6.999999999999890
2.645751311064590 7.000000000000000
 Estimating the Sum of
Four Random Numbers
813 705 1,433 362

Estimate the sum, then drag the sun aside

to reveal the best estimate and the exact
sum. Cover the answer again and press F9
(PC), COMMAND-= (Mac), or column
divider to generate a new problem.
3,300 3,313
1
 Adding Comments and Protecting Objects

48° A

B C 41°
B ?

Place your cursor over a cell with a red triange To create: Insert -> Tools -> Pro
and a comment will pop up. You can create Comment, then type Objects wi
interactive lessons this way, with pop-up and format a moved by use
terminology, numbers, data, or questions. comment.

°
cts

Tools -> Protection -> Protect Sheet -> Protect

Objects will prevent the objects from being
moved by users. They need to remain positioned
with the comments.
 Ih
av
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ur
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a si d
am es
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se a
ts q u
of s e
pa le
ra g
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 Ih
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es
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 Math Magic
Pick a number, any number!
Add 11.
Multiply by 6.
Subtract 3.
Divide by 3.
Add 5.
Divide by 2.
Subtract the number you started
with.
 Write your numbers in column
B.

0
11
66
63 Your
number is
21 13 !!!
26
13
13 Now drag the cat aside!
Click on D, then
spill the paint
bucket with
Try again with a different number.
colored paint. Can you break the spell???
aside!

nt number.
pell???
 Number Puzzle
Use the solution to a puzzle to unlock a new
level, story, problem, or other material.

There are 7 girls on a bus.

Each girl has 7 bags.
In each bag, there are 7 big cats.
Every big cat has 7 little cats.
Question: How many legs are there in the
bus?
You can use the cells to the right to work out
a solution using formulas and labels.
Think you've got it figured out? Try opening
the "cats" spreadsheet using the digits of your
answer as the password.
locked puzzle
formulas description
 1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5 1
1 6 15 20 15 6 1
http://goldennumber.net/pas

Predict: What will happen if

change the top number?
Try it.
number.net/pascal.htm

at will happen if you

op number?
 1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5
1 6 15 20 15 6
1 7 21 35 35 21
1 8 562870 56 28
1 9 36 84 126 126 84
1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120
1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330
 http://goldennumber.net

1
1
6 1
7 1
28 8 1
36 9 1
120 45 10 1
165 55 11 1
ennumber.net/pascal.htm
 Pascal Number Puzzle:
What number goes in each of the colore
the beginning of row 16 of Pascal's tr

1 17 136 680 2,380

 ber Puzzle:
ach of the colored cells in
6 of Pascal's triangle?

6,188 12,376 ### 24,310

 1
1
1 6
1 7
1 8 28
1 9 36
1 10 45 120
1 11 55 165
1 12 66 220 495
1 13 78 286 715
1 14 91 364 1001 2002
1 15 105 455 1365 3003
 1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
4 6 4 1
5 10 10 5 1
15 20 15 6
21 35 35 21 7
56 70 56 28
84 126 126 84 36
210 252 210 120
330 462 462 330 165
792 924 792 495
1287 1716 1716 1287 715
3003 ### 3003 2002
5005 6435 6435 5005 3003
 1
1
8 1
9 1
45 10 1
55 11 1
220 66 12 1
286 78 13 1
1001 364 91 14 1
1365 455 105 15 1
 1 1 2
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5
1 6 15 20 15 6
1 7 21 35 35 21
1 8 28
56 70 56 28
1 9 36 84 126 126 84
1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120
1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330
2 3 5 8 13 21

Summing along
diagonals as sh
1 generates the Fibo
1 sequence.
6 1
7 1
28 8 1
36 9 1
120 45 10 1
165 55 11 1 http://goldennumber.net/pas
mming along the
gonals as shown
rates the Fibonacci
sequence.

umber.net/pascal.htm
 1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
1 5 10 10 5
1 6 15 20 15 6
1 7 21 35 35 21
1 8 28
56 70 56 28
1 9 36 84 126 126 84
1 10 45 120 210 252 210 120
1 11 55 165 330 462 462 330
 http://goldennumber.net/p

These diagonals ar
the sequence of
1 triangular numbers
1
6 1
7 1
28 8 1
36 9 1
120 45 10 1
165 55 11 1
number.net/pascal.htm

diagonals are
equence of
lar numbers.
 Resources

online data

Data Library at the Math Forum

data sets that can be
downloaded as Excel
spreadsheets
Collaborative Data Projects
Other Sources of Data

spreadsheet how-to
Integrating Spreadsheets in the
Classroom
MathsNet A to Z of Spreadsheets
Excel Tutorials for Beginners
spreadsheet sliders video

math resources
arithmetic and geometric
sequences
dice-rolling page that displays
each roll in dice form
square root explorations (video)
Pascal's triangle
http://mathforum.org/workshops/sum96/data.collections/datalibrary/ind

http://mathforum.org/workshops/sum96/data.collections/datalibrary/dat
http://mathforum.org/workshops/sum96/data.collections/datalibrary/les
http://mathforum.org/workshops/sum96/data.collections/datalibrary/oth

http://www.amphi.com/~psteffen/excel.html
http://www.mathsnet.net/a2zofssheets.html
http://spreadsheets.about.com/od/excel101/a/Excel_beg_guide.htm
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=39712&title=Spr

http://home.windstream.net/okrebs/page131.html

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/chances/
http://themathplace.org/shoulders/NewtonSquareRootAlg/NewtonSqua
http://goldennumber.net/pascal.htm
 some broken links

eet_Sliders&ref=fsobierajski
select cells

enter data

change font and size

change column width

and/or row height

insert or delete rows

or columns
wrap text and select
other alignment
options

format a cell for a

specific number option

duplicate or extend
data

move data to another

cell

insert and format a

slider or other form
object

create an array
formula
 how to…

Note: These instructions are for Excel 2000 and 2003. Excel 2007 users should c
instructions.

Select a cell (click to highlight it), a range of cells (click and

column (click on its header), or a range of rows or columns (c
headers). 
Click a cell, type (you'll see the characters appear in the for
cell), then hit Enter or click on another cell.

Click or click and drag to select a range of cells, then select

the drop-down font and size menus.

Method 1: Click and drag the boundary between two columns

Method 2: Select one or more rows or columns by clicking on

the Format menu -> row -> height or Format -> column -> wid
Click on an existing row or column, then:
Insert -> row or Insert -> column or
Edit -> Delete
Select a cell or range of cells, then:
Format -> Cells -> Alignment tab -> check the "wrap text" op
window. 
You might also adjust the text alignment or orientation. 
Resize the row height or column width if needed.

Select a cell or range of cells, then:  Format -> Cells -> Numb
Choose the number category (percent, date, time, currency,
options as needed.

Click and drag the corner of an active cell.

Move the cursor onto the edge of the cell until it changes fr
View -> Toolbars -> Forms Toolbar.
thin black cross. Then click and drag the edge of the cell to
Click the button for the control you want to add.
Drag the control to the size you want.
Right-click and set its properties.
LinkedCell links the slider movement to numbers displayed in
Min and Max control the minimum and maximum values.
0 is the minimum, but you can simulate negative numbers by
first linked cell and writing a formula to subtract a designat
cell.
Select cell range.
If clicking Typedoes
the slider the array formula.it, save and exit the
not activate
Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to enter the formula.
the slider should function.
spreadsheet terms

arithmetic sequence
geometric sequence
 glossary

a sequence with a constant difference between any two terms

a sequence with a constant ratio between any two terms

1 big

2 big

3 big
 Big Ideas about Math and S
and Supporting Ideas and
Issues

* We want to use spreadsheets to enhance the m

taking time away from math and getting too hung

* Will too much use of spreadsheets erode math

understanding of the math concepts involved?

* We want to develop a collection of spreadsheet

implement and are kid-friendly and teacher-friend

* How can we encourage teacher "buy-in" and su

think it's not worth the hassle to try something ne
* Ideally, students will use spreadsheets to analy
they encounter in "real life."
* We hope to use spreadsheets in ways that will
with a wide range of experience.

* Time and computer access are also issues.

Big Ideas
(See "What is math?")
A spreadsheet is a tool for understanding and co
mathematically.
We "talk math" with algebra and with formulas.

Supporting Ideas and Information

Keep it simple.
Keep the focus on the math.
Students don't have to create everything from sc
The whole class can sometimes share one comp

Templates:
. . . . help make spreadsheets user-friendly
. . . . keep the focus on the math.
Other related software:
. . . . InspireData
. . . . Google Docs (for collaborative sharing)
 What is math

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines m

science of numbers and their operations, in
generalizations, and abstractions and of sp
their structure, measurement, transformat

Professor Robert H. Lewis: "Mathematics

about processes." Too often, the way stud
building a scaffold without ever constructi
'building' in the mathematics sense is the t
understanding, the true ability to think, pe
mathematically."
Keith Devlin: Mathematics is the "science o
counting, patterns of reasoning and commun
motion and change, patterns of shape, patt
regularity, and patterns of position."