What to Submit


Discussion, Hints & Tips


Comments worksheet:

This time you'll have to write your own.


Sales_Summary worksheet (Exercise 1):

In this Exercise you discover the difference between Relative Cell references and Absolute Cell references, and when Absolute Cell references need to be used.

The idea of a Named Range is also introduced. The philosophy of the Lab Manual is to use Named Ranges wherever possible. Named Ranges can make the spreadsheet easier to understand, but you should be as comfortable with explicit cell references as with Named Ranges.

As you define a Named Range, pay particular attention to the contents of the dialog box that appears during the process, especially along the bottom, where the cell or range of cells being defined are identified. Notice that Absolute cell references are used exclusively. Why?


StaffingModel worksheet (Exercise 2):

Again, fairly straightforward.  You will use a variety of techniques first encountered in earlier lab exercises in this exercise.  The "Weekly Working Schedule" heading centered across several columns was first encountered in Lab 1, Exercise 1.2. Generating the weekday headings can be done in exactly the same way as the month headings (September to December) in Lab 1, Exercise 1.1.  To get the same formatting for the dollar amounts on the StaffingModel worksheet as the Q1_Budget worksheet, examine any cell with a dollar amount. Notice that "Accounting" was used and not "Currency", which was probably your first choice.  Useful technique: when you see something you like, select the cell and examine the settings.


Exercise 3: (A Gas Equation Model)

Very similar to Lab 1, Exercise 1.3. The main difference is that three columns of data are generated and two curves produced in the chart. The technical challenge is to turn the mathematical formulas given into Excel expressions. First, use each of the letters as a name for a named range. For n, R and T these are the single cells B4, B5 and B6 on the Parameters worksheet, and for V the range A2:whatever on the PressureVolume worksheet. As noted, you can't use R, so make it something close such as R_ (R followed by an underscore). For the first equation you now write:

      =n*R_*T/V

and for the second equation (van der Waals) you now write:

      =n*R_*T/(V-n*b) – n*n*a/V^2


Exercise 4: (The Cobb-Douglas Model)

Very similar to Exercise 3. The main technical issue is converting the mathematical formulas to Excel expressions. For column B (heading L(S)):

      =(S/(f*M^a_machinery))^(1/a_labour)

following the previous approach of using these terms as the names for the named ranges. The ^ is the exponentiation operator. It is important to put brackets around (1/a_labour) to insure the division is performed before the exponentiation.

You are asked to experiment with various parameter values at the end of Exercise 3 and 4. Which one you use in your submission is up to you.