Using Excel Spread Sheets for Beginners
USING EXCEL SPREAD SHEET: Beginners!
  Consider this data from a density experiment:
 
Volume(mL)
Mass(g)
 
0
124.543
 
10
134.445
 
20
144.567
 
30
154.563
 
40
164.338
 
50
174.248
  To Enter Data
1 Double click on the Excel icon and wait for the spread sheet to appear.
2 Click on cell A1.
3 Type "Volume". Hit ENTER or move down to next cell with arrow key.
4 Type in first volume(0). Hit ENTER or move down to next cell with arrow key.
5 Repeat until all volume data is entered.
6 Use the arrow keys to move to the top of the second column. Type "Mass". Hit Enter.
7 Enter the mass data in column B.
 
  To Make a Graph
8 Click on the data and drag the mouse to highlight the data you wish to plot(A2 to B7).
9 Click INSERT and select CHART or select the CHART Icon on the menu bar.
10 Select (XY) SCATTER. Select NEXT.
11 Check range and graph. If OK, select NEXT.
12 If not OK, type location of data into Data Range Box (example: A2..B7). Select NEXT.
13 Type the following information into the appropriate boxes:
  Title of the graph(Mass vs Volume)
  X range Name of variable (Volume)
  Y range Name of variable (Mass)
14 Select NEXT.
15 To choose a chart location, click on the circle beside either "as object:" or "as new sheet:".
16 Select FINISH.
 
  To do a Linear Regression
17 Place the cursor on one of the data points on the graph and click.
18 Select CHART(top of screen). Find ADD TRENDLINE.(You may need to move down until more options appear).
19 Select ADD TRENDLINE.
20 On the Type tab, click on LINEAR to highlight that option and click on OK.
21 Again at the top of the screen, select CHART. Find ADD TRENDLINE.
22 Select ADD TRENDLINE.
23 Click on the Options tab, click on the box beside DISPLAY EQUATION to get a check in the box.
24 Move to the box beside R-SQUARED VALUE and click to get a check in the box. Click OK.
25 The equation for a straight line( y= mx + b) appears on your graph. The slope of the line is "m".
26 Check the R-squared value. The closer it is to 1, the better the data fits an equation for a straight line.
 
  To Print (Extra paper is in the drawer closest to the printer.)
27 Select FILE.
28 Select PRINT.
29 Click on OK .
 
  To Clear and Close
30 Place cursor on the small "x" in the far upper right corner of the screen and click.
31 Select NO so that data will not be stored on this computer.

This website was created and designed by Gretchen E. Potts.
For questions on site content, please email Gretchen-Potts@utc.edu.

Copyright © 2001 Gretchen E. Potts. All rights reserved.

DISCLAIMER: The author used her best efforts to develop a high quality website and to verify that the information and demonstrations contained therein are of sound scientific judgment. However, the author makes no warranties to that effect and the author shall not be legally liable or responsible for any damage that may result from errors or omissions in the website.