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Workplace Software and Skills

Key Terms

Workplace Software and SkillsKey Terms

Key Terms

absolute cell reference
one in which the cell reference is fixed, regardless of where you copy the formula
array
selection of rows or columns that do not have to be contiguous
auditing formulas
process of using Excel tools to monitor and fix errors in worksheets
average
number found by adding up a group of values, and then dividing it by the number of values you added up; also called the mean
background
canvas that is displayed behind the cell contents of a worksheet
basic financial functions
main functions used for calculating loan installments, investment returns, net present value of capital investments, mortgage payment comparisons, and many more real-world applications
cell range
selection of rows or columns that is given a name to make it easier for the worksheet designer to find that specific group of cells later
Cell Style
tool that lets you select other font sizes and background colors
comparison operators
inequality symbols used in math; includes <, >, ≥≥, ≤≤, =, and <>
complex formula
one that uses several operators to calculate an output
Data Table
scenario-building tool in Excel that lets users choose a set of cells on the spreadsheet, and then outputs different solutions or forecasts depending on different scenarios
filter
tool in Excel that lets the user select certain criteria so that only data with that criteria is shown
Format Painter
tool that lets you copy a certain range’s formatting and apply it to a new range
logical functions
long formulas with embedded logical tests that often use comparison operators to search for delimited data
MAX
function that finds the highest value in a dataset
MIN
function that finds the lowest value in a dataset
mixed cell reference
one that uses a combination of both relative and absolute cell references
order of operations
universal law of math used to prescribe the order of doing each calculation in an equation
PivotTable
tool in Excel that lets users create interactive charts and tables from raw datasets
relative cell reference
one in which the cell reference in a formula or function updates automatically to reference an adjacent cell when you copy that formula or function to another cell
standard deviation
common statistical tool used by many data analysts that calculates the variability of the figures in a dataset from the arithmetic mean
tracing dependent functions
finding the source of an error in a formula by finding any cells affected by the active cell
tracing precedent functions
finding the source of an error in a formula by locating the cells that provide the data to perform the calculation in the active cell
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