Excel is a spreadsheet program used to organize and analyze data in rows and columns. It allows users to perform calculations using formulas and functions, and create charts and graphs from worksheet data. The Excel window displays the active cell, ribbon, formula bar, and worksheet tabs. The worksheet is a grid made up of columns designated by letters and rows designated by numbers, with each cell address defined by its column and row.

1. Excel
The Interface

2. What is a Spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet is a document that is
entirely made up of rows and columns.
It is used to list and analyze data.
Editing and formatting – Excel works much
like the tables in MS Word
Formulas and functions – Excel
allows you to perform calculations
and analyze data. Common
calculations include: finding the
Creating Charts and Graphs – You can create sum, average or total number of
colorful charts and graphs from the data in your items in a list
worksheet. Excel will automatically update the
chart to display any changes you make in your
=sum(B6:B23)
data.
=AVERAGE(F4:F8)
=count(B2:B25)

3. The Excel Window
Active Cell Fill handle
F3
Ribbon
Formula Bar
Column
labels
ROW 3
Row labels
COLUMN F gridlines
Worksheet tabs

4. The Active Cell
The worksheet is a grid of columns (designated by letters) and rows (designated by numbers).
The letters and numbers of the columns and rows (called labels) are displayed in shaded buttons
across the top and left side of the worksheet. The intersection of a column and a row is called a
cell. Each cell on the spreadsheet has a cell address that is the column letter and the row number.
Cells can contain either text, numbers, or mathematical formulas.
A
4
The active cell is indicated by a dark outline,
and the column letter and row number in the headers are raised.