What Is an Electronic Spreadsheet?

Electronic spreadsheets allow easy manipulation of numerical data.

Accountants have used physical spreadsheets, which are large sheets of paper that organize data in rows and columns for analysis, for hundreds of years. Electronic spreadsheets, which emerged in the late 1970s, have advantages for both businesses and teachers.

Function

Electronic spreadsheets organize information into software-defined rows and columns. The spreadsheet program then adds up the data, using a formula, to give a total or sum.

Use

The rows and columns of a spreadsheet make up cells that form a grid. The user enters data in the cells and types in formulas (or uses pre-programmed formulas called “functions”) to perform mathematical calculations on the data. If the user changes numerical data, the spreadsheet automatically recalculates.

Graphs and Charts

Users can illustrate points and trends by displaying the data as a graph or chart.

Advantages

Spreadsheets enable both businesses and students to create "what if" scenarios by easily manipulating data. In addition, they save the time and labor of calculating by hand.

Applications

In teaching, electronic spreadsheets help students learn to identify relationships and patterns in numerical data. Business users can use them to base decisions on different possible scenarios.

References

• DSS Resources: A Brief History of Spreadsheets
• University of Alberta: Quasar: Spreadsheets: Features
• Antelope Valley College Online: Describe the Advantages of Spreadsheets
• University of Alberta: Quasar: What Are... Spreadsheets?