Changing the width of a column
There are occasions where the text contained in a cell may overflow the cell that it is in. In these occasions, the column would need to be made wider.
- Position the mouse pointer at the right of column letter that is to have its width adjusted until the cursor changes to a cross-hair
- Either
- Click and hold the left hand mouse button and manually drag the mouse to change the width of the column, or
- Double click the left hand mouse button. This will automatically adjust the width of the column to the longest string of text contained in it.
Changing the height of a row
- Position to the mouse pointer at the bottom of the row number that is to have its height adjusted until the cursor changes to a cross hair
- Either
- Click and hold the left hand mouse button and manually drag the mouse to change the height of the row, or
- Double click the left hand mouse button. This will automatically adjust the height of the row to the maximum height of text contained in it.
Using formulas
A spreadsheet is designed to enable calculations to be made.
Formulas must always start with a “=” sign.
A formula can contain numbers, cell references and arithmetical symbols.
A very simple formula for addition could be:
=A1+A2+A3+A4+60
This would add together the contents of cells A1, A2, A3, A4 and the number 60.
A very simple formula for subtraction would be:
=A1-A2
This would subtract the contents of cell A2 from the contents of cell A1.
A very simple formula for multiplication would:
=A1*A2
This would multiply the contents of cell A1 by the contents of cell A2.
A very simple formula for division would be:
=A1/A2
This would divide the contents of cell A1 by the contents of cell A2.
In order to make one cell always hold the same value as another (for example, have cell B1 always to have the same value as cell A1), enter the formula =A1 into cell B1.
In the following example, formulas need to be entered to calculate the total values for each day.
The formula that could be entered in cell B7 to add up the contents of column B could be:
=B2+B3+B4+B5
Alternatively, there is a formula built into Excel that would make this much quicker. It is the formula =SUM().
The equivalent formula using the =SUM() function would be =SUM(B3:B6). This would add up the contents of cells B3 to B6 inclusive.
This formula could then be copied, using the Copy and Paste functions, into cells C7, D7, E7 and F7.
Alternatively, position the mouse cursor to the bottom right hand corner of cell B7 until the cursor turns into a thick black plus sign. Click on the left hand mouse button and drag the mouse to the right until it highlights cells C7, D7, E7 and F7. Once the mouse button is released, the formula will automatically transfer to these cells.
Because it is the formula that is being copied, the new cells will automatically change to reflect the new column references.
Calculating averages
Excel also has a formula to make calculating averages easy. Using the following spreadsheet, a formula needs to be entered in cell G3 to calculate the average of all of Income A for the week.
The formula to use would be =AVERAGE(B3:F3). This would calculate the average value of all of the cells B3, C3, D3, E3 and F3 inclusive.
This formula could then be copied, using the Copy and Paste functions, into cells G4, G5, G6 and G7.
Alternatively, position the mouse cursor to the bottom right hand corner of cell G3 until the cursor turns into a thick black plus sign. Click on the left hand mouse button and drag the mouse down until it highlights cells G4, G5, G6 and G7. Once the mouse button is released, the formula will automatically transfer to these cells.
Because it is the formula that is being copied, the new cells will automatically change to reflect the new column references.