A spreadsheet is an application often used to process and display financial or statistical information. It is used by people in many different occupations such as engineers, scientists, teachers, designers and people who run their own business. 

A formula is a way a calculation is represented in a cell, using mathematical operators and references to other cells. The formula is entered into a cell, but the display shows the current result of the calculation, which may change as the values in other cells change. All formulae start with an equals sign. 

Replication is the process of copying a formula from one cell to another. This saves us time as we do not have to manually do each formula.

A relative cell reference is cell reference in a formula that changes depending on its location on a worksheet. For example, if a formula is copied from one cell to another the cell reference in the formula will change. This can save us time when making spreadsheets as we do not have to individually complete every formula. 

This is when you want a cell reference in a formula to always stay the same. A dollar sign ($) is used to tell the spreadsheet software to always to use that particular cell. In the example above, cell B2 is the cell to be used in all formula. Therefore a dollar sign has entered in front of the letter B and the row number 2 to ensure that cell is always used in the formula even when replicated. 

Typing small amounts of data into a spreadsheet is fine but if there are hundreds or even thousands of lines of data, this would be very time consuming. Data can be imported using a data file called a CSV file. CSV stands for comma separated value. In this file, each item is separated by a comma and looks something like this: Each comma indicates a new column and each line indicates a new row. If the above csv file were imported, it would look like this in the spreadsheet software: 

Data validation is used to ensure that data entered by the user is reasonable and sensible. Data validation can be used in a number of ways such as ensuring that data entered is within a particular range, that data is in a particular format or that only certain items in a list can be selected. Data Validation can be found under the ‘Data’ tab in the spreadsheet. 

Examples of Data Validation: 

• Age must be a whole number which is less than 18 

• Exam Result must be between 0 and 100 

• Gender must be from a list which consists of Male and Female 

A model is created to replicate a real-life situation. In a spreadsheet application, a model can be created using different functions and formula to see what impact a change in the data entered by the user may have on other data held in the spreadsheet. This can then be used to help users make important decisions. For example, business users could assess the impact a change in unit price may have on their overall profit (what-if), or teachers could use a spreadsheet model to work out how many marks a student needs to achieve a particular grade, based on what they have achieved so far. Spreadsheets can also be used to forecast. For example, if sales of a product continue to grow at the same rate, what will sale be in 18 months’ time? From this, future planning can then take place. 

Spreadsheets display data in tabular form. Charts and graphs can be used to display data in a more visual way making it easy to read and to spot trends. There are different types of charts you can make. 

For example: 

• Bar Chart 

• Line Chart 

• Pie Chart 

• Scatter Graph 

To create a graph, you first need to select the cells you wish to display. Highlight the area. Tip: Use the control button [Ctrl] to highlight two separate ranges of cells. Select the ‘Insert’ tab and choose which chart type you would like to use. You can then use the ‘Chart Tools’ tabs to make changes to the colours, titles, axis, legend etc. 

Charts and graphs can be copied into other software applications such as word processing or presentation software. They can even be linked so charts will automatically update if any changes are made to the original. 

A macro is a small program created to perform a repetitive task. It allows the user to perform a task by using the macro rather than having to enter the individual instructions. If the task is likely to be used many times it is much easier and more user friendly to use a macro. It is a set of commands/instructions recorded together that can be activated by a mouse click or pressing a key. In simple terms it is a short cut to a task. A macro is created by recording the tasks to be carried out. It is then named and saved. You can also write a macro using a script editor.