Introduction: Why Use A Spreadsheet?

Spreadsheets are used to analyse numeric data. Whenever you wish to carry out repetitive calculations a spreadsheet may be used to automate routines. Often people make the statement that to solve a particular problem it would be far quicker to use a calculator than to use a spreadsheet. Whereas, a calculator is used to make one-off calculations, a spreadsheet is used for calculations that need constant amending.

For example, a company's payroll will involve the same calculations on a weekly or monthly basis. The only amendments that need to be made are the hours worked by the employees. Users of calculators would need to carry out the same calculations each time, users of spreadsheets would only be required to enter the new hours, and the spreadsheet would update itself.

Spreadsheets are widely used in industry, commerce and research for recording and comparing data in table and chart form and for planning and forecasting - eg. cash flow budgets, inventories, product costings, market survey results, credit control, profit/loss statements, sales plans, analysis of experimental results, business trends, etc.

Contents: Spreadsheets

Skill Check: Spreadsheets