Different spreadsheets will provide different kinds of special features, but the ones that you are learning are typical and also generalize well to spreadsheets from different software companies. That is, the Clariworks spreadsheet has a SUM command, so you can expect other spreadsheets such as Excel to have one somewhere in their pull-down menus. You'll just have to look for their way of identifying it.

Having learned one spreadsheet, you at least have the advantage of knowing what to expect. Knowing how to use an existing spreadsheet is a requirement for the statewide 8th grade exam and a NC teacher education computer literacy requirement. Knowing these skills is critical to later planning and building your own spreadsheet for classroom use.

 Sample spreadsheets are available online to use with the practice questions below. These spreadsheets will work cross-platform. That is, these software applications run on both Mac and Windows platforms so you can download the samples below for either. If in class, you can copy the spreadsheet folder from the App Server PickUp folder for your section of this class. If off-campus you can click on the links below to download them to your computer one at a time and then have your application Open the file.
 
 

These files are stored as version 2.0 files so that this and later versions of the software can read the files. Also note that Apple Computer has changed the name of Clarisworks to Appleworks.

It is important to be aware of this technique for distributing files. The links go to files that are in Appleworks and Excel formats, not web page format. The browser recognizes that the data is not in web page format and provides an option to download the file to a location of your choice. You may or may not be able to click on the file itself and have the correct application start. A more reliable approach is to open the application itself and direct it to open the file that was downloaded. This procedure works for the file formats of many applications, not just spreadsheets, but does presume that the user has the application which can read and use the file being downloaded. Open this web page in Netscape Composer and check the links to see further how this was done.

 Muffins.cwss ; BowlingScores.cwss ; Formats.cwss ; Multiply.cwss ; Nutrient.cwss ; Puzzle.cwss ; USDebt.cwss.
 
 

These files are stored in Microsoft Excel format 3.0 so that this version and later versions can use these files.

It is important to be aware of this technique for distributing files. The links go to files that are in Appleworks and Excel formats, not web page format. The browser recognizes that the data is not in web page format and provides an option to download the file to the location of your choice. You may or may not be able to click on the file itself and have the correct application start. A more reliable approach is to open the application itself and direct it to open the file that was downloaded. This procedure works for the file formats of many applications, not just spreadsheets, but does presume that the user has the application which can read and use the file being downloaded. Open this web page in Netscape Composer and check the links to see further how this was done.

 Muffins.xls ; BowlingScores.xls ; Formats.xls ; Multiply.xls ; Nutrient.xls ; Puzzle.xls ; USDebt.xls.
 
 

Spreadsheet Sample Questions

1. Use the Muffins spreadsheet: What is the formula for determining how much Honey is needed to make 24 muffins?

 

 
 
 

2. Use the U.S. Debt spreadsheet: If the population in 1990 had been 1 billion greater, what would be the per capita debt in 1990 dollars?

 

 
 
 

3. Use the Bowling Scores spreadsheet: If Sam Thomas had bowled a 300 in Week 5, how much would this have brought up the team average for the week? What formula is used to determine team average for week 5? How much would it have brought up their average from all games? What formula is used to find this overall average?

 

 
 
 

4. Use the Nutrient spreadsheet: How milligrams of Vitamin C are in 5 servings of Cooked Fresh Carrots and 5 servings of Apples?

 

 
 
 

5. Use the Nutrient spreadsheet: What is the total number of milligrams of Protein in a meal for the hungry campers: 4 servings of hamburger patty, 8 servings of chicken drumsticks,a dn 4 servings of baked potato?

 

 
 
 

6. Use the Nutrients spreadsheet: In addition to 1 serving of Baked potato, one serving of which food would provide the greatest total amount of Vitamin C?

 

 
 
 

7. How many servings of Chicken Drumsticks will give the same amount of Protein as 72 servings of Cooked Fresh Carrots?

 

 
 
 

8. The trail guide says that you need a meal that provides 162 milligrams of calcium. Which combination of two items of two servings will provide you at least with these nutrient totals? You can choose from Spinach, Cooked Fresh Carrots and Raw Cabbage?

 

 
 
 

Dr. Robert S. Houghton, Copyright, 1994-present.