Practical 2: Introduction to Spreadsheets

Instruction Sheet
(March 2023)

INSTRUCTIONS
• As part of this exercise you have been provided with the following:
o This instruction sheet
o A spreadsheet file entitled Diesel Reef 50 PPM Retail Prices 2008-2023
• You are required to perform all the necessary calculations on the spreadsheet according
to the instructions provided on this instruction sheet.
• The deliverable/outcome of this exercise is a single spreadsheet workbook with all
calculation, formatting and graphs in accordance with the instructions given in this
document.
• This is an individual assignment. Students are not allowed to produce solutions as groups.
Any work that will be submitted as group work will not be marked, and the students
involved will as a result get zero.
• Students who submit work where there is evidence that they did not do part or all of the
work themselves will get zero.
• Students who are found to have shared their work with others will also get zero.
• This work is to be submitted on Blackboard no later than Sunday, 26th March 2023, at
11:59pm.
• You are advised not to wait until the last minute to submit the work as excuses such as
network issues or any other issues that could arise on the final day of submission will not
be accepted.
• Late submissions will strictly not be accepted.
• This exercise contributes 10% towards the final mark for this module.
• This exercise is designed to encourage and test students’ problem solving skills.
• When saving the “Diesel Reef 50 PPM Retail Prices 2008-2023” spreadsheet after doing
all the work (the deliverable/solution) rename it as: Student number, Name and Surname
(e.g. 20220234 Chuma Memela).
• Total Marks = 40

1
1. Formatting: [16 Marks]

a. In sheet1, Merge all the cells from cell A1 to H1. [1]

b. Centre the table title ‘Diesel Reef 50 PPM Retail Prices 2008-2023’ in the cell
that you have just merged from A1 to H1. [1]

c. Format the font of the table title in row 1 to Arial, size 14pt and make it bold.[3]

d. Format the font of all the headings on row 2 to Arial, size 12pt and make it bold.
[3]

e. Format all other data in the worksheet to Arial and size 12pt. [2]

f. Apply a colour of your choice in the merged cell on row 1. [1]

g. Apply a colour of your choice in cells A2 to H2. The colour on this row should
be different to the colour in row 1. Ensure that the text is clearly visible on both
rows. If the colours you have chosen are too dark and obscure the text, you
can change the colour of the text to provide a contrast that will make the text
clearly visible. [1]

h. Apply All Borders formatting from cell A1 to H24. [1]

i. Format all the data in column H (i.e. Retail Price) to South African Rand.
[1]

j. Format cells D3, E3 and F3 so that the data in those cells is displayed in South
African Rand. [1]

k. Format cells M3 and N3 so that the data in those cells is displayed as

percentages. [2]

2. Calculations: [12 Marks]

a. In January 2023 the Retail Margin (RM) was R2.41 as shown in cell D3. In cell
J3 use a formula to calculate how many percent RM is of the Retail Price (RP)
in January 2023. Cell J3 should display the percentage. [2]

b. In January 2023 the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Levy on fuel was R2.18 as
shown in cell E3. In cell K3 use a formula to calculate how many percent the
RAF levy is of the Retail Price (RP) in January 2023. Cell K3 should the display
the percentage. [2]

c. In January 2023 the Fuel Levy (FL) was R3.80 as shown in cell F3. In cell L3
use a formula to calculate how many percent the FL is of the Retail Price (RP)
in January 2023. Cell L3 should display the percentage. [2]

d. Let us assume that the Retail Margin (RM), RAF Levy and Fuel Levy have
remained the same percentage proportion of the Retail Price over the past 16
years since 2008. Calculate how much the Retail Margin, RAF Levy and Fuel
Levy were every year from 2008 to 2023. (Hint: Your answers will be displayed
in columns D, E and F in Rand). [2]

2
 e. In column G, calculate the value added tax (VAT) that is imposed on the Retail
Price shown in Column H. From 2008 to 2017 the VAT was fixed at 14% as
shown in Cell M3. Use this VAT for your calculation. From 2018 to 2023 use
the 15% VAT value for your calculation. [2]

f. In Column C calculate the Basic Fuel Price (BPF) by subtracting the sum of all
the respective fees from the Retail Price. [2]

g. -5 Marks for failure to use absolute referencing in question d. above, even if

the answers are correct.

h. Rename Sheet 1 to read: Fuel Prices

3. Graphs and Charts: [12 Marks]

a. In a new sheet, after the Fuel Prices sheet, insert a 2D Line chart to show the
fluctuation trend of the Retail Price from the year 2008 to 2023. [2]

b. Edit the chart title so that it reads: ‘Diesel Reef 50 PPM Retail Prices 2008-
2023 – An analysis by your student number’ (e.g. ‘Unleaded Petrol Price
History in Coastal Areas – An analysis by 202300000’).
[1]

c. Insert a legend at the bottom part of the chart. [1]

d. Apply a chart style of your choice to make the chart look attractive. [1]

e. Rename the sheet: 2D Chart

f. Create a new sheet after the 2D Chart sheet and insert a 3D Column chart to
show a comparison of the Basic Fuel Price (BFP) and Retail Price (RP). The
chart should also include the Value Added Price. (Hint: the chart will display
three bars for each year i.e. BFP, RP and VAT). [2]

g. Edit the chart title so that it reads: ‘Diesel Reef 50 PPM Retail Prices 2008-
2023 – An analysis by your name and surname’ (e.g. ‘‘Diesel Reef 50 PPM
Retail Prices 2008-2023 – An analysis by your Chuma Memela’). [1]

h. Insert a legend at the bottom part of the chart. [1]

i. Apply a chart style of your choice to make the chart look attractive. [1]

j. Format each chart so that the years read in order of oldest to most recent from
left to right. [2]

k. Rename the current sheet 3D Chart

When saving the “Diesel Reef 50 PPM Retail Prices 2008-2023” spreadsheet after doing
all the work (the deliverable/solution) rename it as: Student number, Name and
Surname (e.g. 202300000 Chuma Memela).

END