Back to: Investigating Functions using Spreadsheets || Math Units: Contents

Any spreadsheet will allow students to input numerical data and then view a plot of these data. Most spreadsheets can display the table and the graph onscreen at the same time. This allows students to experiment with changing values in the table and observing the results in the plot.

In Microsoft Excel 5.0 the table and plot can be set up in separate windows as shown:

The spreadsheets in this unit should load as in the illustration, and are fully active.

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If you cannot open the spreadsheet examples:

• Print out the sample lesson spreadsheets and the sample seminar spreadsheets.

• If the program supports displaying two windows side by side, set the spreadsheet up as follows:
  1. With 1 window open, open a second window. Then select the command which will tile with a vertical split.

  2. Type data in the left window.

  3. Highlight the cells that contain the data and use the Chart command to create an X-Y Scatterplot in the second window. Make sure to choose to use the data from column 1 as X-data.

• If your spreadsheet does not display two windows, you may be able to paste the plot into the spreadsheet. Alternatively, students can toggle back and forth between the plot and table displays.