Data Tables in Microsoft Excel

DATA TABLES
DATA TABLES is one of the 'Data Tools' which comes standard in Excel.
Data Tables will present the model output for a series of possible model input values.
Data Tables are extremely useful for performing sensitivity analysis.

A one-way Data Table presents one or more model output for various values of a specific model input.
One-way Data Tables can be organized horizontally or vertically.

A two-way Data Table will present one model output for various values of two specific model inputs.

Copyright Vantage Professional Development Inc., 2013.

 Data Tables in Microsoft Excel

STEP-BY-STEP: One way vertical DATA TABLE

1 Build a spreadsheet model following the rules of good modeling practice - where the inputs are separated from the calculations and outputs.
2 Make a DATA TABLE
a. Organize the input values you want to consider in a column.
b. Relative to the uppermost cell, move one cell to the right and one cell up. In this cell, link to the output from your model.
c. Highlight the entire table.
d. Open the Data Table wizard. Select the Data ribbon -> What if analysis -> Data Table
e. For a vertical Data Table, you have organized the input values to consider into a column.
Therefore, you link the “Column input cell” to the address of the input you would like to change using the values in the table.
The “Row input cell” is left blank.
f. Hit “OK” to find the solution.
3 Check that your Data Table is set up correctly.

Example
Given the annual rate of return (5%) and the duration of investment (30 years),
find the amount of money you would have for various levels of annual investment

Step 1.
Build a spreadsheet model following the rules of good modeling separating inputs from calculations and outputs,
and labelling inputs and calculations so that it is easy to follow the model design.

INPUTS
Annual Investment 10000
Rate 5%
Time 30

OUTPUTS
Amount saved $ 664,388

Step 2a.
Organize the input values you want to consider in a column.
For example, type numbers 8000, 9000, 10000, 11000, and 12000 into a column.

Step 2b.
Relative to the cell in which you typed 8000, move one cell to the right and one cell up. In this cell, type =D8 linking it to the Amount Saved output from your model.

Step 2c.
Highlight the entire table.

Step 2d.
Open the Data Table wizard. Select the Data ribbon -> What if analysis -> Data Table

Step 2e.
For a vertical Data Table, you have organized the input values to consider into a column.
Therefore, you link the “Column input cell” to the address of the input you would like to change using the values in the table.
In this case, the “Column input cell” is D3, the Annual Investment. The “Row input cell” is left blank.

Step 2f.
Hit “OK” to find the solution.

Step 3.
Check that your Data Table is set up correctly. Our model was initially set up with the input value of $10,000 annual investment and reported an amount saved of $664,388.
We can also look up this value in our Data Table.

FINAL PRODUCT

After additional formatting, you can make your Data Table look like the following.
Note how the top-right number/formula is merely to help set-up the table and has no business intuition.
Because of this, we de-emphasize it graphically.

Try it out!

INPUTS Amount Saved by Annual Investment

Annual Investment $10,000 Annual Investment Amount Saved
Rate 5%
Time 30 $8,000
$9,000
OUTPUTS $10,000
Amount saved $ 664,388 $11,000

Copyright Vantage Professional Development Inc., 2013.

 Data Tables in Microsoft Excel

STEP-BY-STEP: One way horizontal DATA TABLE

1 Build a spreadsheet model following the rules of good modeling practice - where the inputs are separated from the calculations and outputs.
2 Make a DATA TABLE
a. Organize the input values you want to consider in a row
b. Relative to the leftmost cell, move one cell to the left and one cell down. In this cell, link to the output from your model.
c. Highlight the entire table.
d. Open the Data Table wizard. Select the Data ribbon -> What if analysis -> Data Table
e. For a horizontal Data Table, you have organized the input values to consider into a row.
Therefore, you link the “Row input cell” to the address of the input you would like to change using the values in the table.
The “Column input cell” is left blank.
f. Hit “OK” to find the solution.
3 Check that your Data Table is set up correctly.

Example
Given the inputs in the profit model
find the amount saved you would have for various interest rates.

Step 1.
Build a spreadsheet model following the rules of good modeling separating inputs from calculations and outputs,
and labelling inputs and calculations so that it is easy to follow the model design.

INPUTS
Annual Investment 10000
Rate 5%
Time 30

OUTPUTS
Amount saved $ 664,388

Step 2a.
Organize the input values you want to consider in a row. For example, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6% and 7% into a row.

Step 2b.
Relative to the cell in which you typed 3%, move one cell to the left and one cell down. In this cell, type =D8 linking it to the Amount Saved output from your model.

Step 2c.
Highlight the entire table.

Step 2d.
Open the Data Table wizard. Select the Data ribbon -> What if analysis -> Data Table

Step 2e.
For a horizontal Data Table, you have organized the input values to consider into a row.
Therefore, you link the “Row input cell” to the address of the input you would like to change using the values in the table.
In this case, the “Row input cell” is D4, the rate. The “Column input cell” is left blank.

Step 2f.
Hit “OK” to find the solution.

Step 3.
Check that your Data Table is set up correctly. Our model was initially set up with the input value of 5% and reported a profit of $664,388.
We can also look up this value in our Data Table.

FINAL PRODUCT

After additional formatting, you can make your Data Table look like the following.

Try it out!

INPUTS Amount Saved by Rate

Annual Investment $10,000 Annual Rate
Rate 5% 3.00% 4.00% 5.00% 6.00% 7.00%
Time 30 664,388

OUTPUTS
Amount saved $ 664,388

Copyright Vantage Professional Development Inc., 2013.

 Data Tables in Microsoft Excel

STEP-BY-STEP: Two way DATA TABLE

1 Build a spreadsheet model following the rules of good modeling practice - where the inputs are separated from the calculations and outputs.
2 Make a DATA TABLE
a. Organize the input values you want to consider in a column and a row (forming an upside down L)
b. In the upper left corner, link to the output from your model
c. Highlight the entire table.
d. Open the Data Table wizard. Select the Data ribbon -> What if analysis -> Data Table
e. For a two-way Data Table, you have organized the input values into a row and a column.
Therefore, you link the “Column input cell” to the address of the input you would like to change using the column values
Therefore, you link the “Row input cell” to the address of the input you would like to change using the row values
f. Hit “OK” to find the solution.
3 Check that your Data Table is set up correctly.

Example
Given the inputs in the profit model
find the amount of profit, for various levels of material and labor costs.

Step 1.
Build a spreadsheet model following the rules of good modeling separating inputs from calculations and outputs,
and labelling inputs and calculations so that it is easy to follow the model design.

INPUTS
Annual Investment 10000
Rate 5%
Time 30

OUTPUTS
Amount saved $ 664,388

Step 2a.
Organize one of the input values you want to consider in a column.
For this example, we will consider possible amount of time (base case is 30). Type numbers 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 into a column.
Organize the other input values you want to consider in a row that is situated one column to the right, and row above the topmost cell of the column.
For this example, we will consider possible rates (base case is 5%). Type numbers 3%, 4%, 5%, 6% and 7%.

Step 2b.
Relative to the leftmost cell in the row, move one cell to the left. In this cell, type =D8 linking it to the Amount Saved output from your model.

Step 2c.
Highlight the entire table.

Step 2d.
Open the Data Table wizard. Select the Data ribbon -> What if analysis -> Data Table

Step 2e.
For a two-way Data Table, you have organized the input values into both a row and a column.
Therefore, you link the “Column input cell” to the address of the input corresponding to the column of values.
In this case, the “Column input cell” is D5, the time.
You link the “Row input cell” to the address of the input corresponding to the row of values.
In this case, the “Row input cell” is D4, the rate.

Step 2f.
Hit “OK” to find the solution.

Step 3.
Check that your Data Table is set up correctly.
Our model was initially set up with a input value of 30 years and 5% interest rate, resulting in an amount saved of $664,388.
We can also look up this value in our Data Table.

FINAL PRODUCT

After additional formatting, you can make your Data Table look like the following.

Try it out!

INPUTS Amount Saved by Rate and Time

Annual Investment $10,000
Rate 5% Rate
Time 30 3% 4% 5% 6% 7%
Time 20
OUTPUTS 25
Amount saved $ 664,388 30
35
40

Copyright Vantage Professional Development Inc., 2013.

Exercise 1.
Peter is a paramedic student. When he measures pulse rate, he counts the number of
and then needs to multiply by 4 to report the number of heartbeats per minute.
An upper-year student advised him to tape the four times table to his clipboard

a. Build a spreadsheet model with only 2 inputs and one output.

b.     Test your model to ensure that it works correctly.

c.      Using a Data Table, create a table for Nelson to tape to his clipboard to quickly i
the heart rate per minute given the number of heartbeats in 15 seconds.

INPUTS

Heartbeats in 15 seconds 17
15 second intervals in 1 minute 4

OUTPUT
Heartbeats per minute 68
ulse rate, he counts the number of heartbeats for 15 seconds
of heartbeats per minute.
mes table to his clipboard

nd one output.

o tape to his clipboard to quickly identify

of heartbeats in 15 seconds.

no. of heart beats

in 15 sec
68
15
16
17
18
19
20
Exercise 2.
Nelson works at an old gas station. The part of the screen showing the total cost is in
Until it is repaired, Nelson must calculate the total cost for each customer by multiplyin

a.     Build a spreadsheet model with two inputs (volume of gas purchased in litres and
b.     Test your model to ensure that it works correctly.
c.     Using Data Tables, answer the following questions:
    i.  The price of gas is currently $1.10 per liter and typical gas purchases range fro
Create a table for Nelson to use to quickly identify the total cost for custom
ii.  On any given day, the price of gas can increase or decrease by up to $0.10.
Create a table for Nelson that varies gas prices and the volume of gas pur

INPUTS
Volume 12 Litres
Price $1.10 per Litre

OUTPUT
Total Cost $13.20
creen showing the total cost is in need of repair.
st for each customer by multiplying the number of litres purchased by the price per litre.

me of gas purchased in litres and price per litre) and one output (total cost of gas purchased).

d typical gas purchases range from 4 litres to 60 litres.

y identify the total cost for customers.
ease or decrease by up to $0.10.
prices and the volume of gas purchased.

10 10.1 10.2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Exercise 4.
Adrienne is starting a new business distributing organic, free-range, farm fresh eggs to
She sells eggs by the dozen at the wholesale price of $3.75 per dozen.
Her fixed costs include monthly expenses of $500 for her truck, gas, and insurance.
She buys eggs from local farmers at a price of $1.95 per dozen.

a.      Build a spreadsheet model that Adrienne could use to calculate her monthly pro

b.     Test your model to ensure that it works correctly.

. c.      Build a two-way Data Table for Adrienne to evaluate her profit at various wholes
and various quantities of sales (ranging from 100 to 700 dozen eggs per mon

d Build a two output model (revenue and profit) at various quati

INPUTS
# eggs sold (in dozens)
Price per dozen
Fixed Cost
Variable Cost per dozen

MODEL
Revenue
Cost of goods sold
Gross Margin
Fixed costs
Profit

OUTPUT
Profit
-range, farm fresh eggs to local grocery stores.
per dozen.
ck, gas, and insurance.

calculate her monthly profit

er profit at various wholesale egg prices (ranging from $3.00 and $4.25 per dozen)
o 700 dozen eggs per month).

and profit) at various quatities os sales