Excel Basics Practice

This file provides hands-on exercises to accompany the document named "A Review of Excel Basics".

Naming Ranges
Exercise 1 Name a Range (method 1) Exercise 2 Name a Range (method 2)
Exercise 3 Name a Range (method 3) Exercise 4 Display Range Names
Exercise 5 Add a Cell Comment

Formatting
Exercise 6 Merge and Center Exercise 7 Apply Formatting
Exercise 8 Apply Borders Exercise 9 Create a Text Box
Exercise 10 Use the Format Painter

Basic Editing
Exercise 11 Edit Fill Exercise 12 Use Excel Custom Lists
Exercise 13 Copy and Paste a Formula Exercise 14 Convert Formulas to Values
Exercise 15 Transpose Data

Formulas
Exercise 16 Relative References Exercise 17 Absolute References
Exercise 18 Use Built-in Functions Exercise 19 Using Logical Functions
Exercise 20 Using Formula Auditing Tools

Data Tables
Exercise 21 The One-Input Data Table Exercise 22 The Two-Input Data Table

Charting
Exercise 23 Generate a Quick Chart Exercise 24 Use the Chart Wizard
Exercise 25 Create an XY Chart

Paula Ecklund v 2007-8

iew of Excel Basics".

mulas to Values
 Return to
Practice: Formatting Contents

Exercise 6-Merge and Center

Tensile Strength of Cement*

1 13 13.3 11.8 1. Select range B6:G6.
2 21.9 24.5 24.7 2. From Home Tab click the "Merge
3 29.8 28 24.1 24.2 26.2 and Center" button.
7 32.4 30.4 34.5 33.1 35.7
28 41.8 42.6 40.3 35.7 37.3

* From http://www.stat.ncsu.edu/sas/sicl/data

Exercise 7-Apply Formatting

Select each of the five cells in turn in
100 Currency the range B18 to B22. Format the cell
100 Percentage by clicking the appropriate button
1000000 Thousands comma separator from the Home Tab and Number
100.00 Increase decimals Format.
100.00 Decrease decimals

Exercise 8-Apply Borders

Select the range of colored cells at left
and use a border tool on the
formatting toolbar to add a thick border
around the outside. Your bordered
range should look like this:

Exercise 9-Create a Text Box

Click the Text Box tool on the Insert
Tab. Draw a rectangular shape at left,
and enter text into the box. To add
special formatting, right-click an edge
of the text box and choose "Format
Text Box".
 and enter text into the box. To add
special formatting, right-click an edge
of the text box and choose "Format
Text Box".

Exercise 10-Use the Format Painter

Sales Use the Format Painter button from

January $5,400.00 Home Tab to quickly format the range
B63:C66 in the same way as the
February $3,152.00 range B58:C:61 formatted.
March $6,582.00

Sales
January $5,400.00
February $3,152.00
March $6,582.00
 B6:G6.
Tab click the "Merge
ton.
 Return to
Practice: Basic Editing Contents

Exercise 11-Edit Fill

5 March Qtr 1 1. Select range B7:B8 at left.

10 April Qtr 2 2. Position the pointer on the "fill box",
the small black square in the lower
right corner of the selected range.

3. Drag the fill box down so Excel

continues the sequence of numbers.

Do the same for C7:C8 and D7:D8.

Exercise 12-Use Excel Custom Lists 1. Select Cell B25 at left.

2. Position the pointer on the "fill box",
January Sunday the small black square in the lower
right corner of the selected range.
3. Drag down several rows. Excel will fill
the cells with months of the year.
Follow the same process for Cell C25.

Exercise 14-Edit Copy & Edit Paste Special to Convert Formulas to Values

Formulas Values 1. Click each of the cells B65 to B69 at left

46 and see in the formula bar that each is a
54 formula.
2. Select the range B65:B69.
143 3. From the keyboard press Ctrl + C (Copy).
100 4. Click Cell D65 and right-click choose Paste
Special.
5. In the "Paste Special" dialog, toggle on
the "Values" option and click OK.

The numbers in the range D65:D69 should

appear the same as the numbers in the
 1. Click each of the cells B65 to B69 at left
and see in the formula bar that each is a
formula.
2. Select the range B65:B69.
3. From the keyboard press Ctrl + C (Copy).
4. Click Cell D65 and right-click choose Paste
14 Special.
5. In the "Paste Special" dialog, toggle on
the "Values" option and click OK.

The numbers in the range D65:D69 should

appear the same as the numbers in the
range B65:B69. However, click each
value in the D column and see in the
formula bar that each has been
transformed from a formula to a constant.

Exercise 15-Edit Copy & Edit Paste Special to Transpose Data

Data in Rows 1. Highlight the range B85:D87 at left.

January 55 35 2. From Excel's menus choose Copy.
February 23 29 3. Click Cell B90.
March 12 18 4. Right-Click choose Paste
Special to open the "Paste Special"
dialog.
Transposed Data 5. Click the "Transpose" option near the
bottom of the dialog; then click OK.

Excel converts columns to rows.

B69 at left
t each is a

+ C (Copy).
choose Paste

toggle on
OK.

D69 should
ers in the
 B69 at left
t each is a

+ C (Copy).
choose Paste

toggle on
OK.

D69 should
ers in the
k each
e in the
n
a constant.

t left.
Copy.

ecial"

ear the
k OK.
 Return to
Practice: Formulas Contents

Exercise 16-Copying a Formula Using a Relative Reference

Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 1. Check to see that the cell C11 at left
March $500 $250 $35 holds the SUM formula =SUM(C8:C10).
April $300 $120 $45 2. Make cell C11 the current cell.
May $100 $95 $55 3. Position the mouse pointer on the filled
black square at the lower right-hand
Total: $ 900.00
corner of cell C11 and drag the pointer
across to cell E11. The result should look
like this:

4. Examine the copied formulas in cells

D11 and E11. Excel has adjusted the
cell references so they refer to the
correct values in their columns. That is,
=SUM(C8:C10) becomes =SUM(D8:D10)
and =SUM(E8:E10).

Exercise 17-Copying a Formula Using an Absolute Reference

Tax rate: 4% 1. Check to see that the cell C35 at left

holds the formula =SUM(C32:C34)*C29.
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 2. Make cell C35 the current cell.
March $500 $250 $35 3. Position the mouse pointer on the filled
April $300 $120 $45 black square at the lower right-hand
corner of cell C11 and drag the pointer
May $100 $95 $55
across to cell E35. The result should look
Tax: $36 like this:

Example
Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3
March $500 $250 $35 The formulas in Cells D35 and E35 are
April $300 $120 $45 incorrect as copied. Excel has used its
default relative referencing in the copied
May $100 $95 $55
formulas but that's not appropriate for
Tax: $36 $19 $5 the reference to the tax rate in Cell C29.
4. Modify the "master formula" in Cell C35
so it looks like this:
=SUM(C32:C34)*$C$29
and then copy the modified formula
across for Quarters 2 and 3 to get the
correct results.
Check the completed example (with green
background) to see another instance.
 =SUM(C32:C34)*$C$29
and then copy the modified formula
across for Quarters 2 and 3 to get the
correct results.
Check the completed example (with green
background) to see another instance.

Exercise 18-Use Built-in Functions 1. Write a function in each of Cells C64:C67

at left to calculate the sum, average,
Sales minimum value, and maximum value in
May $ 235 the range C59:C62 (named SALES).
June $ 544 Your result should look like this:
July $ 829
August $ 610

Sum:
Average:
Min: 2. Enter the TODAY function in Cell C69 to
Max: return the current date. The syntax of
the function is: =TODAY()

Today's date:

Exercise 19-Using Excel Logical Functions

1. Write an IF function in Cell C82 that
Sales ($ millions) compares the sales in Quarters 1 and 2
Quarter 1 500 and returns the text "Q1 better than 2" or
Quarter 2 350 "Q2 better than Q1". Your formula should
Quarter 3 495 look like this:
Quarter 4 620 =IF(C77>C78, "Q1 better than Q2",
"Q2 better than Q1.")
2. Write an IF statement in Cell C84 that
Which did better? includes a nested MAX function and that
returns the text "Exceeded $600M sales
Met $600M Q goal? in one quarter" if any quarter meets that
criteria or "Quota not met" if not. Your
Q1 vs. Q2: formula should look like this:
=IF(MAX(C77:C80)>600, "Exceeded
$600M sales in 1 quarter","Quota not
met")
3. Write an IF statement in Cell 86 that
compares sales in Q1 and Q2. If Q1
sales are greater, return the difference.
If Q1 sales are less, return the increase.
Your formula should look like this:
=IF(C77>C78, C77-C78, C78-C77)

Exercise 20-Using Excel's Formula Auditing Tools

1. Click Cell C105

2. GO to Formula Tab and and click the "Trace
Precedents" button on the toolbar to see the
values used by the C105 formula.
3. Click Cell C101 and click the "Trace
Dependents" button on the toolbar to see
the formula values that depend on the tax
Tax rate: 6% 1. Click Cell C105
2. GO to Formula Tab and and click the "Trace
Sale: 100 Precedents" button on the toolbar to see the
values used by the C105 formula.
Tax: 6 3. Click Cell C101 and click the "Trace
Total: 106 Dependents" button on the toolbar to see
the formula values that depend on the tax
rate value in C101.
4. Click the "Remove All Arrows" button on
the toolbar to remove auditing indicators.
ell C11 at left
=SUM(C8:C10).
nt cell.
ter on the filled
r right-hand
ag the pointer
esult should look

mulas in cells
adjusted the
efer to the
olumns. That is,
es =SUM(D8:D10)

ell C35 at left Tip-Building a Formula with Absolute

M(C32:C34)*C29. Addressing
ent cell.
nter on the filled An absolute reference is indicated by the dollar
er right-hand signs before the row and column indicators;
rag the pointer e.g., $C$29. An alternative to typing in the
result should look dollar signs is to
1. Position the mouse pointer on the cell
reference in the formula bar.
2. Tap the F4 key until the type of reference you
want is displayed.
D35 and E35 are The F4 key toggles through four options:
cel has used its C29 - relative
cing in the copied $C$29 - absolute row and column
appropriate for $C29 - absolute column, relative row
rate in Cell C29. C$29 - absolute row, relative column
mula" in Cell C35

*$C$29
ified formula
nd 3 to get the

mple (with green

er instance.
*$C$29
ified formula
nd 3 to get the

mple (with green

er instance.

of Cells C64:C67
um, average,
aximum value in
med SALES).
like this:

=sum(sales)
=average(sales)
=min(sales)
=max(sales)
on in Cell C69 to
The syntax of
Y()

Cell C82 that

Quarters 1 and 2
1 better than 2" or
ur formula should

er than Q2",

n Cell C84 that

function and that
ded $600M sales
uarter meets that
et" if not. Your
this:
0, "Exceeded
r","Quota not

n Cell 86 that
and Q2. If Q1
n the difference.
urn the increase.
ok like this:
8, C78-C77)

and click the "Trace

oolbar to see the
rmula.
the "Trace
he toolbar to see
epend on the tax
 and click the "Trace
oolbar to see the
rmula.
the "Trace
he toolbar to see
epend on the tax

rows" button on
diting indicators.
 Return to
Practice: Charting Contents

Exercise 23-Generate a Quick Chart

Sales 1. Select the range B7:C10 at left.

Quarter 1 $500 2. Hit the F11 key.
Quarter 2 $550
Quarter 3 $650 Excel generates a default column chart on a
new worksheet it adds to the workbook. Your
column chart should look like this:

Exercise 24-Use the Chart Wizard to Create a Chart

March April May 1. Select the range B24:E27 at left.

Marketing $350 $400 $325 2. From Insert Tab Click the Recommended
Overhead $100 $100 $110 Charts. Generate a bar chart that looks
R&D $500 $550 $525 something like the one
below.
Exp en se Typ e

Expenses March-May

R&D
$500
Dollars in Thousands
Overhead
$100

Marketing
$350

$0 $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 $600

March April May

Exercise 25-Create a Scatter Plot (XY Chart)

X 5000 10000 15000 20000

Y 200000 400000 600000 800000

1. Select the range B46:F47above.

2. Click the Chart Wizard button on Excel's
Standard toolbar and start the Chart
Wizard. Choose the "XY (Scatter)" chart
type.
3. Complete the Chart Wizard steps. Your
scatter plot should look something like the
one below.
1. Select the range B46:F47above.
2. Click the Chart Wizard button on Excel's
Standard toolbar and start the Chart
Wizard. Choose the "XY (Scatter)" chart
type.
3. Complete the Chart Wizard steps. Your
scatter plot should look something like the
one below.

XY Scatter Plot
900000
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0

00 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000

40 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
 27 at left.
he Recommended
art that looks

arch-May

$500
n Thousands

$350

0 $300 $400 $500 $600

April May

F47above.
d button on Excel's
start the Chart
XY (Scatter)" chart

Wizard steps. Your

ok something like the
F47above.
d button on Excel's
start the Chart
XY (Scatter)" chart

Wizard steps. Your

ok something like the

atter Plot

0 0 0 0 0 0
00 400 600 800 000 200
12 1 1 1 2 2