excel
Guidelines for Developing Spreadsheets
It is important to develop spreadsheets that are clear, well-organized, and easy to read. Here are some tips that you will need to assist with your assignments in class. I recommend them for all your work, both at GCU and later in your career.
Your spreadsheet should be organized into three basic parts. Clearly label each part.
A title, labeling what your spreadsheet does. The title for your spreadsheets in this course can be the problem number that you are assigned. Place this in the upper left corner, in cell A1.
Inputs, which are given or assumed.
Results (Outputs) which the spreadsheet calculates.
Provide specific labels for all inputs and outputs. Label both the variable names and the notation for the variables. Where a formula is involved, it is a good idea (but not necessary) to enter the formula to the right of the cell containing the results. I display these formulas in italics, so that they are not confused with the variable labels.
Highlight the cell containing the final answer, using EXCEL’s yellow highlighter, which can be found on the top menu bar.
If your spreadsheet uses a long formula, you might find it advisable to break the formula into component parts. This serves to minimize the typos that can occur when entering long formulas, as well as makes locating errors in the results easier to find. Nested parentheses are a particular problem in long formulas, and breaking up the calculations into component parts minimizes the need for nested parentheses also. In the example below, the calculations are broken into two steps; (1) the percentage changes in price and quantity demanded, and (2) the final elasticity calculation using these intermediate results.
Don’t forget to place each homework problem on a separate spreadsheet tab. Label these tabs with the problem number for easy identification.
A sample spreadsheet reflecting these points is below.
| Calculating Price Elasticity of Demand | |||
| Inputs: | |||
| Original Price (P1) | $10.00 | ||
| New Price (P2) | $12.00 | ||
| Original Quantity Sold (Q1) | 950 | ||
| New Quantity Sold (Q2) | 900 | ||
| Results: | |||
| % change in price (decimal form) | 0.2000 | =(p2-p1)/p1 | |
| % change in quantity demanded (decimal form) | -0.05263 | =(q2-q1)/q1 | |
| price elasticity of demand | -0.26316 | ||
Do not submit:
Word files
Multiple files for a single assignment
Filenames that start with anything but your last name. Save your files as Smith module 1 hmwk.xlsx
Filenames that do not have the module number on them
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