Transcript Microsoft Excel® can be a very powerful tool for studying mathematics.

Microsoft Excel® can be a very powerful
tool for studying mathematics. This
presentation will show you how to
1.Input values
2.Create a function that uses the values for
input
3.Create a graph of the ordered pairs
Suppose we want to input a set of values
into a function just to get an idea of how
the function is behaving.
Let’s examine the cost function:
C ( x)  2 x  9  1.6 (5  x)  4
2
Where the domain of x is [1, 4]
2
In Excel, we will create 2 columns: x-values and
Cost values
Column A will be x
Column B will be C(x)
I input the x-values. I chose
intervals of .2 from 1 to 4
Now it is time to build the
function, or formula
In the first function cell, type =
notice it adds it in the formula
area of the toolbar
Here is what we need to type in the
formula area. It is based on standard
computer programming and calculator
operations.
C ( x)  2 x  9  1.6 (5  x)  4
2
2
In Excel:
2*sqrt(A2^2+9)+1.6*sqrt((5-A2)^2+4)
A2 is called the “reference cell”, the
one with the first x value
Notice I expanded the B column
to demonstrate the function is in
the B2 Cell. Now hit “Enter” and
the function value will appear in
the cell
Now we want to expand the
function to all of the cells in
column B. Place the cursor
on the bottom right corner,
and drag the box down thru
the cells in column B and
release the mouse. This will
fill in all of the cells.
Now we can make a
graph of the function
We will use the Chart
Wizard
Select a Line
Chart and let’s
use the upper
left sub-type
Follow the Wizard by clicking Next
In the Data range select the Column B data by
dragging the box to hi-light the data
Select Series and
do the same for
the X axis labels
Click Next
Now fill in the Title and labels for your axes
Click Finish to put the chart into the Worksheet
You can now Copy and Past the Table and Chart into a
Word document.