How to Use MS Excel As a Scientific Calculator
The Microsoft Excel spreadsheet application can not only make graphing easy, but it can help simplify the organization of your experimental data. Once the data is organized and graphed, you need simply print it out for use in any of your presentations.
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Instructions
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Calculation
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Type "X=" into cell A1, and your Y= equation into cell B1
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Input your independent variables starting in cell A2 and moving downward. On a graph, these would be the numbers along the X axis.
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Click in cell B2, then type an equals sign (=) and type your function into that cell. Most buttons on a scientific calculator are functions that Excel can recognize. For example, =Log(A2) returns the logarithm of X in A2, =Tan(A2) returns the Tangent. You can also use the Function Wizard, located under the Insert menu. When the function is input, press Enter.
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Move the cursor back to cell B2 and click the small black handle in the lower right-hand corner of the cell. Drag that handle down to fill the cells below with your equation. When you release the mouse, the cells will be filled with the results of your equation.
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Verify that your results are correct. Use a handful of blank cells to break your formula down and check that the results you're getting are correct.
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Move into column C and make another equation if you need to. Repeat, shifting one more column to the right, for as many equations as you have.
Graphing
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Click and drag to select the "Y=" data you wish to graph. To graph multiple sets, hold shift and select your additional sets.
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Click the Chart button on the Excel toolbar or ribbon. The Chart Wizard appears. You can also find the Chart Wizard if you select "Chart" from the Insert menu.
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Select "Line graph," or whatever type of graph you're aiming to chart. Click "Next."
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Click the Series tab, and the Series screen appears. Click the icon in the field marked Category (X) Labels. Select the data in column A, then click the icon a second time. Make any edits to your series by selecting them from the text box.
If you wish to add a second line to the graph at this point, click Add under the Series box, and choose the data set by clicking the icon in the Values: field. When the graph is ready, click "Next."
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Check the various tabs to add or remove options from your chart. For example, if you are only charting one set of data, you should label it on the first tab, but you can remove the legend on the Legend tab. When ready, click "Next."
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Choose whether to make the chart its own sheet, or an image on the same page as the data. Click "Finish."
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Right-click one of your data points, and select "Format Data Series." Look through the tabs and make any changes you wish to. Such as adding Y error bars or changing the color of the data line.
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Tips & Warnings
Click in cell B2, open the Window menu and select "Freeze Panes" to make Column A and Row 1 appear on screen no matter where you scroll on the spreadsheet.
For the independent variables, you can start with the numbers 1 through 5 if you don't have a specific set.
Make sure you use Print Preview before printing your spreadsheet.
