Entering Data and
Creating Graphs with Excel

 

The spreadsheet is divided into columns, labeled with letters, and rows, labeled with numbers.  The “boxes” are called cells.  They are named with a letter and a number.  For example, the cell in the top left corner is cell A1.

To enter data into a cell, click on that cell.  After the data is entered, hit return.  Use the arrow keys to move from cell to cell.  To enter a formula, always begin the formula with an equal sign (=).

To graph the data you have entered, click and drag to highlight the data you want to graph.  Then, either click on the chart wizard button (it looks like a bar graph). Then follow these steps to complete your graph.

1.      Select the chart type and click “next”.

2.      The next screen is used if you want to change the source data.  Usually it is correct.  Click “next”.

3.      Enter a title for your chart, lablels for the x and y axes, and choose whether not a legend is necessary for your chart.  You also have the option here if labeling each data point.  Do this only if it does not make the graph crowded and unreadable.

4.      The last part of the wizard gives you the choice of putting your graph on the original spreadsheet, or on a new sheet.  Click “Finish”.

Note:  You can make changes to your graph after you exit the chart wizard by right clicking on the graph and choosing “Chart Options” from the menu.

            After making sure the graph is the way you want it, be sure to save, print (or both), depending on what the teacher asks you to do.

Practice:

1. Type the following data into an Excel spreadsheet:

Type    Calories       Sodium

Beef      186          495

Beef      181          477

Beef      176          425

Beef      149          322

Beef      184          482

Beef      190          587

Beef      158          370

Beef      139          322

Beef      175          479

Beef      148          375

Beef      152          330

Beef      111          300

Beef      141          386

Beef      153          401

Beef      190          645

Beef      157          440

Beef      131          317

Beef      149          319

Beef      135          298

Beef      132          253

Meat      173          458

Meat      191          506

Meat      182          473

Meat      190          545

Meat      172          496

Meat      147          360

Meat      146          387

Meat      139          386

Meat      175          507

Meat      136          393

Meat      179          405

Meat      153          372

Meat      107          144

Meat      195          511

Meat      135          405

Meat      140          428

Meat      138          339

Poultry   129          430

Poultry   132          375

Poultry   102          396

Poultry   106          383

Poultry    94          387

Poultry   102          542

Poultry    87          359

Poultry    99          357

Poultry   107          528

Poultry   113          513

Poultry   135          426

Poultry   142          513

Poultry    86          358

Poultry   143          581

Poultry   152          588

Poultry   146          522

Poultry   144          545

2. Create a line graph using this data.  Title it “Calories and Sodium in Hot Dogs”. 
3.  In cells F1 and G1, type “Calories” and “Sodium”.  In cells E2, E3, and E4, type “Beef”, “Meat”, and “Poultry”.
4. Calculate the average amount of calories and sodium in each kind of hot dog.  Example formula:  =AVERAGE(B2:B20)  **This calculates the average calories for beef hot dogs and should be typed in cell F2**
5. Save your spreadsheet and line graph.