Using the Spreadsheet
Basic Terminologies
Header: The first row in a spreadsheet that labels the type of data in each column.
Borders: Lines that can be added around two or more cells on a spreadsheet.
Range: A collection of two or more cells in a spreadsheet.
Filtering: The process of showing only the data that meets a specified criterion while hiding the rest.
Sorting: The process of arranging data into a meaningful order to make it easier to understand, analyze, and visualize.
Fill handle: A box in the lower-right-hand corner of a selected spreadsheet cell that can be dragged through neighboring cells in order to continue an instruction.
Equation: A calculation that involves addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division (also called a math expression).
Operator: A symbol that names the operation or calculation to be performed.
Math function: A function that is used as part of a mathematical formula.
Order of operations: Using parentheses to group together spreadsheet values in order to clarify the order in which operations should be performed.
Cell reference: A cell or a range of cells in a worksheet typically used in formulas and functions.
Field: A single piece of information from a row or column of a spreadsheet; in a data table, typically a column in the table.
Record: A collection of related data in a data table, usually synonymous with row.
Some Functions
AVERAGE: A spreadsheet function that returns an average of the values from a selected range.
COUNT: A spreadsheet function that counts the number of cells in a range that meet a specific criterion.
MAX: A spreadsheet function that returns the largest numeric value from a range of cells.
MIN: A spreadsheet function that returns the smallest numeric value from a range of cells.
SUM: A spreadsheet function that adds the values of a selected range of cells.
Business Task and Data Analysts
Business task: The question or problem that data analysis resolves for a business.
Problem domain: The area of analysis that encompasses every activity affecting or affected by a problem.
Scope of work (SOW): An agreed-upon outline of the tasks to be performed during a project.