SpreadsheetSolving

Top 10 Keyboard Shortcuts for Spreadsheets

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Here is a short post on my top 10 favorite keyboard shortcuts for spreadsheets.

Keyboard shortcuts lets you perform an action in your spreadsheet by pressing certain keys on your keyboard. Why learn them? Shortcuts are time-saving, increasing your productivity and efficiency!

If you use a Mac, replace the Ctrl with the Command (or Apple) key. Unless specified, the shortcuts can be applied in both Google Spreadsheet and Microsoft Excel.

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What College Rank & Professors’ Salaries say about Tuition

Do higher-ranked schools tend to charge a larger tuition? Does a professor’s salary positively correlate with college tuition? In this post, we’ll explore the relationships between college tuition to a couple of factors, such as professor salary, school rank, freshman retention rate*, and 6-year graduation rate.
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ABCD: Analyzing Big College Data

© Photographer Daniel Gilbey|Agency: Dreamstime.com

The college decision is a big one. Are you deciding which college(s) to apply to or which one to attend? Or are you in middle or high school and interested in attending college someday? Or have you already graduated from college?

For all, let’s explore essential skills by analyzing data across 202 U.S. colleges! Continue reading “ABCD: Analyzing Big College Data”

Pampered Pooches: Is Pet Spending Recession-Proof?

When asked which child she adores most, my mom would remark without hesitation, “Sushi is my favorite.” Sushi is an adorable 7-year-old schnauzer. As many may relate, pets are a part of the family, with a few lucky ones elevated to “favorite child” status. Continue reading “Pampered Pooches: Is Pet Spending Recession-Proof?”

Nutella “Spread”sheet Analysis

Nutella has recently been a prime target of thefts – from the undergraduate dining halls of Columbia University to a central German town of Bad Hersfeld, where 5 tons of this hazelnut spread was discovered from a parked trailer. Imagine a trailer holding 7,150,000 calories, 780,000 grams of fat, and over 1.5 tons of sugars – all packed in this delicious spread! Continue reading “Nutella “Spread”sheet Analysis”

NYC Subway Passenger Habit Charts

© Photographer Oscar1319 | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently published an observational study of subway rider seating behavior. Collecting data over three weeks in late winter 2012, the researchers published their findings on rider seating preferences in a draft report: who finds seats when the train is crowded? Do standing riders prefer vertical bars or graspable handles? Which seat type do sitting riders take: seats near a door or bench spots?

Based on some of the data from the report, let’s create visuals – charts that offer us a glimpse into some questions: Continue reading “NYC Subway Passenger Habit Charts”

“The Sexiest Job in the 21st Century”

© Photographer Shannon Matteson
Agency: Dreamstime.com

How do we make use of an explosion of information? What skills do we need to manage massive amounts of data? Can we analyze them, create visualizations, and make discoveries?

If any of these questions intrigue you, you may be interested in “the sexiest job in the 21st century” (according to the Harvard Business Review).

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How to Estimate Taxes with Spreadsheets

© Photographer John Hix | Agency: Dreamstime.com

The tax code is complex: figuring out just how much we owe Uncle Sam is frequently accompanied with a huge headache. So just how neat would it be if we had an easy way to estimate how much federal taxes we owe?

By the end of this post, you will 1) understand how our federal tax schedule works, and 2) be on your way to creating a tax estimator spreadsheet. Continue reading “How to Estimate Taxes with Spreadsheets”

Pivot Table & National Volunteering Month

April is National Volunteering Month, so let’s celebrate! What better way is there to celebrate than to honor those who devote themselves to their communities while simultaneously mastering a pivot table? That’s right – you heard me!

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Mad Men Salary Equivalence

© Photographer Dana Rothstein | Agency: Dreamstime.com

In Season 5 of Mad Men, a TV series set in the 1960’s, Peggy leaves the company to accept a salary of $19,000. What does $19K in 1967 equate to in today’s dollars? Let’s solve it with a spreadsheet!

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How many languages do you speak?

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Over the past several months – or years for that matter – there has been a rush among American parents to teach kids Mandarin. After-school language classes have emerged, immersion programs are gaining popularity, and videos and phone apps focused on languages have sprung up!

A recent Economist article, “Valued-Added Remodeling” (March 16, 2013) even noted that Jack Markell, Delaware’s governor, plans to expand immersion programs, such as those seen in the kindergarten classroom of Mcllvaine Early Childhood Center, where children are taught solely in Mandarin for half of each day.

Now, what’s the connection between our language skills and a spreadsheet? Continue reading “How many languages do you speak?”

Google Spreadsheet 101

Take a spreadsheet tour with us. Here you’ll explore the layout of a typical Google spreadsheet. Along the journey, you’ll discover what menu bar is; how to add and rename worksheets; how to add, delete, and re-size rows and columns; and how to undo an action.