What is MS Excel?
MS Excel is a spreadsheet program where one can record data in the form of tables. It is easy to analyse data in an Excel spreadsheet.
How to open MS Excel?
To open MS Excel on your computer, follow the steps given below:
Click on Start
Then All Programs
Next step is to click on MS Office
Then finally, choose the MS-Excel option
Alternatively, you can also click on the Start button and type MS Excel in the search option available.
What is a cell?
A spreadsheet is in the form of a table comprising rows and columns. The rectangular box at the intersection point between rows and columns forms a cell. Given below is an image of a cell:
What is Cell Address?
The cell address is the name by which is cell can be addressed. For example, if row 7 is interested in column G, then the cell address is G7.
Features of MS Excel
Various editing and formatting can be done on an Excel spreadsheet. Discussed below are the various features of MS Excel.
Home
Comprises options like font size, font styles, font colour, background colour, alignment, formatting options and styles, insertion and deletion of cells and editing options
Insert
Comprises options like table format and style, inserting images and figures, adding graphs, charts and sparklines, header and footer option, equation and symbols
Page Layout
Themes, orientation and page setup options are available under the page layout option
Formulas
Since tables with a large amount of data can be created in MS excel, under this feature, you can add formulas to your table and get quicker solutions
Data
Adding external data (from the web), filtering options and data tools are available under this category
Review
Proofreading can be done for an excel sheet (like spell check) in the review category and a reader can add comments in this part
View
Different views in which we want the spreadsheet to be displayed can be edited here. Options to zoom in and out and pane arrangement are available under this category
Benefits of Using MS Excel
MS Excel is widely used for various purposes because the data is easy to save, and information can be added and removed without any discomfort and less hard work.
Given below are a few important benefits of using MS Excel:
Easy To Store Data: Since there is no limit to the amount of information that can be saved in a spreadsheet, MS Excel is widely used to save data or to analyse data. Filtering information in Excel is easy and convenient.
Easy To Recover Data: If the information is written on a piece of paper, finding it may take longer, however, this is not the case with excel spreadsheets. Finding and recovering data is easy.
Application of Mathematical Formulas: Doing calculations has become easier and less time-taking with the formulas option in MS excel
More Secure: These spreadsheets can be password secured in a laptop or personal computer and the probability of losing them is way lesser in comparison to data written in registers or piece of paper.
Data at One Place: Earlier, data was to be kept in different files and registers when the paperwork was done. Now, this has become convenient as more than one worksheet can be added in a single MS Excel file.
Neater and Clearer Visibility of Information: When the data is saved in the form of a table, analysing it becomes easier. Thus, information is a spreadsheet that is more readable and understandable.
MS Excel – Points To Remember
There are certain things which one must know with respect to MS Excel, its applications and usage:
- An MS Excel file is saved with an extension of .xls
- Companies with large staff and workers use MS Excel as saving employee information becomes easier
- Excel spreadsheets are also used in hospitals where the information of patients can be saved more easily and can be removed conveniently once their medical history is cleared
- The sheet on which you work is called a Worksheet
- Multiple worksheets can be added in a single Excel file
- This is a data processing application
MS Excel Questions and Answers
Given below are a few sample questions based on MS Excel which will help candidates preparing for competitive exams to score more in the Computer Awareness section.
Q 1. The address that is obtained by the combination of the Row number and the Column alphabet is called ________.
- Worksheet
- Cell
- Workbox
- Cell Address
- Column Address
Answer: (4) Cell Address
Q 2. Where is the option for page border given in the MS Excel spreadsheet?
- Home
- Insert
- Format
- View
- Page Border cannot be added in excel worksheet
Answer: (5) Page Border cannot be added in excel worksheet
Q 3. Excel workbook is a collection of _______ and _______.
- Worksheet and charts
- Graphs and images
- Sheets and images
- Video and audio
- None of the above
Answer: (1) Worksheet and charts
Q 4. What type of chart is useful for comparing values over categories?
- Bar Graph
- Column Chart
- Pie Chart
- Line Graph
- Such charts cannot be created in Excel
Answer: (2) Column Chart
Q 5. There is an option to add comments in an Excel worksheet, what are the cells called in which comments can be added?
- Cell Tip
- Comment Tip
- Smart Tip
- Point Tip
- Query Tip
Answer: (1) Cell Tip
Q 6. Which of the following symbols needs to be added in the formula bar, before adding a formula?
- *
- $
- %
- +
- =
Answer: (5) =
Q 7. Which keyboard key is used for Help in MS Excel?
- ctrl+H
- F2
- F1
- shift+H
- Alt+ctrl+home
Answer: (3) F1
- By clicking on it
- By pressing the arrow keys
- By pressing Tab key
- All of the above
- None of the above
Q 8. How can you activate a cell in MS Excel?
Answer: (4) All of the above
Q 9. What is the definition of MS Excel?
Ans. MS Excel is a spreadsheet program where one can record data in the form of tables. This gives the user a more systematic display of data.Q2
Q 10. What are the main features of Microsoft Excel?
Ans. The main features of MS Excel include inserting a pivot table, sorting of tabulated data, adding formulas to the sheet, and calculating large data.Q3
Q 11. What are the common MS Excel formulas?
Ans. Given below are the common calculations which can be done using MS Excel:
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Average
- Maximum and Minimum
- Concatenate
- Count
Q 12. What is a cell in Microsoft Excel?
Ans. MS Excel comprises a spreadsheet is in the form of a table comprising rows and columns. The rectangular box at the intersection point between rows and columns forms a cell.Q5
Q 13. Can multiple sheets be added to a single spreadsheet?
Ans. Yes, MS Excel gives an option to add multiple worksheets to a single spreadsheet. The user can rename each of these worksheets as per their requirements.
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