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Spreadsheet Basics

Excel
AppleWorks
Entering a Value
  1. Click in the desired cell.
  2. Type the information.
  3. Press RETURN to go to the cell below or the tab key to go to the next cell to the right.
  1. Click in the desired cell.
  2. Type the information. (Note how the information is displayed in the entry bar.)
  3. Press return.

Entering a Formula

  1. Click in the desired cell.
  2. Formulas begin with an equal sign.  Press =.
  3. Select the cell with the first value to be included in the calculation.
  4. Type the appropriate math operator (+, -, *, /).
  5. Click the cell containing the next number to be used in the calculation.
  6. Repeat steps 3-5 until all values needed for the calculation have been selected.
  1. Click in the desired cell.
  2. Formulas begin with an equal sign.  Press =.
  3. Select the cell with the first value to be included in the calculation.
  4. Type the appropriate math operator (+, -, *, /).
  5. Click the cell containing the next number to be used in the calculation.
  6. Repeat steps 3-5 until all values needed for the calculation have been selected.
Entering a Label
  1. Click the desired cell.
  2. Type a label (words or numbers that will not be used in calculations).
  1. Click in the desired cell.
  2. Type a label (words or numbers that will not be used in calculations).
Math Operators

 + Add       -Subtract

*Multiply    /Divide

+ Add       -Subtract

*Multiply    /Divide

Changing Column Width
  1. Place the cursor on the vertical line behind the column you wish to change. The cursor will change to a crosshair.
  2. Click and drag the crosshair OR double-click to auto size the column.
  1. Move the cursor to the vertical line between the two columns you wish to change.  The cursor will change to a crosshair.
  2. Click and drag the mouse to make the column larger or smaller.
Changing Row Height
  1. Place the cursor on the horizontal line below the row you wish to change.
  2. Click and drag the crosshair to increase/decrease row height.
  1. Highlight the row(s) to be changed.
  2. Click Format and Row Height.
  3. Enter a number to increase/decrease row height.
Inserting a Row
  1. Click the Row Indicator Box to select an entire row.
  2. Click Insert and Rows.
  1. Click the Row Indicator Box where you wish to insert a row.
  2. Click Format and Insert Cells.
Deleting a Row
  1. Click the Row Indicator Box to select the row you wish to delete.
  2. Click Edit and choose Delete.
  1. Click the Row Indicator Box where you wish to delete a row.
  2. Click Format and Delete Cells.
Inserting a Column
  1. Click the Column Indicator Box to select a column.
  2. Click Insert and choose Columns. (a blank column is inserted to the left.)
  1. Click the Column Indicator Box where you wish to insert a column.
  2. Click Format and Insert Cells.
Deleting a Column
  1. Click the Column Indicator Box to select the column you wish to delete.
  2. Click Edit and Delete.
  1. Click the Column Indicator Box to select the column you wish to delete.
  2. Click Format and Delete Cells.

Functions

Includes AutoSum, Maximum, Minimum and Average (see each topic for specific instructions)

AutoSum

AutoSum will add numbers in a column or row.

  1. Click and drag to select the entire range of cells to be added plus the blank cell where the sum will be placed.
  2. Click the AutoSum button.
  • Click and drag to select the entire range of cells to be added plus the blank cell where the sum will be placed.
  • Click Calculate and AutoSum.

AutoFill (Excel)

Fill Right (AW)

Fill Right will copy a number or formula to other cells

  • Select the range of cells to be copied.
  • Place the cursor on the dot in the lower right corner.
  • When it changes to a box with two arrows, drag to cover the cells where you wish to place the selected data.
  • Select the range of cells to be copied as well as the cells that will be filled with this same information.
  • Click Calculate and Fill Right.

Maximum Function

This function provides the largest number in the selected row or column.

  • Click the cell where you wish for the desired maximum number to be displayed.
  • Click Insert and Function.
  • Select MAX.
  • Click and drag over the cells with the data in them from which the maximum value is to be selected.
  • Press return
  • Click in the cell where you wish for the maximum number to be displayed.
  • Click Edit and Insert Function.
  • Double-click MAX (number1, number2É).
  • In the entry bar, delete everything between the parentheses.
  • Click and drag over the cells with the data in them from which the maximum value is to be selected. Press return.

Minimum Function

This function provides the smallest number in the selected row or column.

  • Click the cell where you wish for the desired minimum number to be displayed.
  • Click Insert and Function.
  • Select MIN.
  • Click and drag over the cells with the data in them from which the minimum value is to be selected.
  • Press return.
  • Click in the cell where you wish for the minimum number to be displayed.
  • Click Edit and Insert Function.
  • Double-click MIN (number1, number2É).
  • In the entry bar, delete everything between the parentheses.
  • Click and drag over the cells with the data in them from which the minimum value is to be selected.
  • Press return.

Average Function

This function calculates the average of a range in the selected row or column.

  • Click the cell where you wish for the desired average to be displayed.
  • Click Insert and Function.
  • Select AVERAGE
  • Click and drag over the cells with the data in them for which the average is to be calculated.
  • Press return.
  • Click in the cell where you wish for the average to be displayed.
  • Click Edit and Insert Function.
  • Double-click AVERAGE (number1, number2É).
  • In the entry bar, delete everything between the parentheses.
  • Click and drag over the cells with the data in them from which the average value is to be selected. 
  • Press return.

Copying and Pasting

Formulas

  • Click in the cell that holds the formula to be copied.
  • Click Edit and Copy.
  • Select the destination cell.
  • Click Edit and Paste.
  • Click in the cell that holds the formula to be copied.
  • Click Edit and Copy.
  • Select the destination cell.
  • Click Edit and Paste.