Appendix B Spreadsheet Skills Introduced in Chapter 2
The only new spreadsheet skill introduced in Chapter 2 is the use of nonlinear functions.
Spreadsheets let you use Algebraic functions that you have encountered in previous courses 2.3.1. There are a few details to keep in mind:
- Multiplication need to be explicit with
*
rather then implicit putting terms and numbers next to each other. - Exponentiation uses
^
- Square root uses
sqrt
- \(e^x\) is
EXP(x)
x
needs to be replaced by a cell reference- In reading
-A1^2
, Excel interprets the minus sign as a negation symbol which is evaluated as eponentiation. The normal meaning of \(-x^2\) required parentheses, so-(A1^2)
We also introduce Discontinuous functions that are common in business settings 2.3.2. There are a few details to keep in mind:
- Business transactions are generally in whole dollars or cents, so rounding is common.
ROUND
and its variants round to a specified number of digits before or after he decimal place. - Transactions are often in terms of multiples of a unit size. (Eggs are usually sold in dozens.)
CEILING
andFLOOR
round up or down to multiples of a given quatity. - Transactions often have different rules for different sizes. (Overtime hours pay at a different rate than regualr hours.)
IF
lets you have a formula with cases..
For all these functions Excel and Sheets operate the same.