Spreadsheet Concepts

Spreadsheet Concepts

1. characteristics of modelling software

   • used to model objects
     • virtual representation
     • use of layers
     • questions can be asked
   • used for financial modeling
     • based on functions and formulae
     • variables and constants can be used
     • what-if questions can be asked

2. variables, formulae, rules and functions

   • variable - identifier asociated with a particular cell which contains a value
   • a formula is a calculation which uses numbers, addresses or cells and mathematical operators
   • rules are a set of procedures that must be followed and can also be the sequence of events required for a calculation to work
   • a function represents a complex formula that uses reserved words

3. worksheets, workbooks, cells, rows, columns, ranges

   • worksheets consists of all the cells in the sheet
   • workbook is a collection of work sheets
   • row is a range of cells denoted by a number that go across the worksheet
   • column is a range of cells denoted by a letter that go down the worksheet
   • range is a group of cells denoted by a name or cell references

4. absolute and relative referencing

   • relative - the cell referenced in a formula changes when the formula is copied to other cells
   • absolute - teh cell referenced in the formula remains exactly the same when the formula is copied to other cells