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 Excel
Open up the Excel Program.
Save the file as exercise1.xls. (file-save as) and save into your class folder.
Naming and saving files is the same as for MS Word.

2. Entering data
Enter in the data from the surveys for the following people:
The top row is the column 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).

Name Age Sex Grade Mother Father

Anna 12 F 7 home prison
Jeff 10 m 5 home prison
Keisha 9 f 4 prison deceased
Taylor 11 m 6 prison no contact
Sarah 13 f 8 home prison

3. Formulas.
In the row after Sarah (row 7), in the cell in the column for age (D7), we will calculate average
grade. There are two ways to do this, using the ‘function’ sign key, or writing the algorithm
directly into the cell where you want the average to appear.
i. Function Key
A. Look for the function sign fx in the tool bar. Click on it. It should open up a menu, click
on AVERAGE, then OK. In the box for NUMBER 1 you should see the cells listed that
have the ages. (e.g., d2:d6) and also the values are listed to the right of the menu box.
{7;5;4;6;8}.
B. Click on OK and you will see the average age calculated in the cell.
ii. Algorithm
The second way is writing out the command in the cell where you want the calculation to appear.
In other words, in cell D7
type =average(d2:d6) or alternatively =average(d2 d3 d4 d5 d6) and tab out of
the box. You should get 6 as your answer.

Exercises:
a. Try calculating the average for Age.
b. Try doing the sum of the above numbers using the function sign and also the formula =sum( ).
4. Sorting Data
Now, sort the names by alphabetical order.
Do this by highlighting all of the data cells.
Now click on DATA then SORT. In the menu box, sort by column A (name) (it’ll say Column A
if the box for header is not checked, but if it is checked, then you’ll see sort by Name). click on
ok.

Exercises
a. Sort by sex, ascending (so females first, because F is before M in the alphabet)
b. Try sorting by highlighting just one of the columns. You’ll be prompted to expand the
selection. Make sure that option is checked, and then click on Sort.

5. Insert a row
In the first row of the males (line 5), move your cursor to the left most column on the spreadsheet
that displays the row number (5). Click on that to highlight the line. Then go to INSERT and
click on ROW.

Calculate the average age for females and the average age for males (if using the function key,
make sure the menu includes the correct cells for averaging).

6. Add a worksheet
Now, create a new table on another worksheet (you will have been working in worksheet 1. If there is no
other worksheet, go up to INSERT and add a worksheet).

7. Rename worksheets
Right click on the worksheet name (sheet 1) and select Rename. It’s now blackened out…you
can now type the new name (e.g., ‘original’). Click on any cell to leave renaming.

8. Making a bar chart.

Put sex in one column and average age in the next, as is done below:

f 5.67
m 6.5

Highlight these cells and click on the Chart icon, or if you don’t see one, click on INSERT – CHART.
Follow the defaults and just click next until you get to finish.

You should get this if you click on the first column chart:
 6.4

6.2

5.8
Series1
5.6

5.4

5.2

5
Female Male

▪ Add value labels: Right click on the bar itself. Click on FORMAT DATA SERIES –
LABELS – Label Contains – VALUE. Click on OK.
▪ Format labels: right click on the labels. Click on Font to change font, or Number to change
the kind of number it is. Play around with this a bit.
▪ Change colors of bars: Right click on the bar itself. Click on FORMAT DATA SERIES -
PATTERNS, and choose a different color from the palette. You’ll see that the violet color has
a blue border around it to indicate that it’s the current color.

Exercises:
a. Change the color of the plot area (which is now grey).
b. Start with a table like this: Then right click on the legend and explore the possibilities.
Grade
Female 5.67
Male 6.5

9. Making a pie chart.

Start with this table: (3 children are girls, and 2 are boys)
female 3
male 2

Following the steps for making a Bar Chart this time make a pie chart.

Exercises:
a. Make a pie chart for whether the mother is at home or in prison.
b. Extra credit: Make a pie chart for Just mother in prison, Just father in prison, both in prison and
Other.

TURN IN Exercises. If there is nothing to show (e.g., for the renaming worksheets) just indicate that you
did it successfully. The purpose for you to learn this software, but anyone who has used any software
will know that some know more than others, and everyone knows something that others don’t.