Module 3: Spreadsheet magic

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In this post, I provide accurate answers and detailed explanations for Module 3: Spreadsheet magic of Course 2: Ask Questions to Make Data-Driven Decisions – Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate.

Whether you’re preparing for quizzes or brushing up on your knowledge, these insights will help you master the concepts effectively. Let’s dive into the correct answers and detailed explanations for each question.

Test your knowledge on working with spreadsheets

Practice Quiz

1. When giving a spreadsheet a title, what are some best practices to follow? Select all that apply.

  • Titles should be clear ✅
  • Titles should be in ALL CAPS
  • Titles should state what the data in the spreadsheet is about ✅
  • Titles should be short ✅

Explanation:
A good title provides clarity about the content of the spreadsheet. It should be concise, descriptive, and easy to understand. Using ALL CAPS is not necessary and can reduce readability.

2. Fill in the blank: Data analysts can use _____ to highlight the area around cells in order to see spreadsheet data more clearly.

  • borders ✅
  • filters
  • italics
  • pivot tables

Explanation:
Borders are used in spreadsheets to visually separate data and make it easier to read and analyze.

3. Within a spreadsheet, data analysts use which tools to save time and effort by automating commands? Select all that apply.

  • Filters
  • Functions ✅
  • Formulas ✅
  • Tables

Explanation:
Functions and formulas automate calculations and operations within a spreadsheet, saving time and effort. Filters and tables help organize data but do not automate commands.

Test your knowledge on using formulas in spreadsheets

Practice Quiz

4. Which of the following are examples of operators used in formulas? Select all that apply.

  • Hash (#)
  • Hyphen (-) ✅
  • Asterisk (*) ✅
  • Forward slash (/) ✅

Explanation:
These are common operators in spreadsheet formulas:

  • Hyphen (-) for subtraction.
  • Asterisk (*) for multiplication.
  • Forward slash (/) for division.
    A hash (#) is not an operator used in formulas.

5. In a spreadsheet, a formula should always start with which of the following operators?

  • Equal sign (=) ✅
  • Colon (:)
  • Plus-minus (±)
  • Dash (—)

Explanation:
In spreadsheets, all formulas begin with an equal sign (=) to indicate that a calculation or function will follow.

6. What is the term for the set of cells that a data analyst selects to include in a formula?

  • Cell set
  • Data boundary
  • Cell domain
  • Data range ✅

Explanation:
A data range refers to the group of cells included in a formula for calculations or analysis.

7. In a formula, the plus sign (+) is the operator for addition, and the hyphen (-) is the operator for subtraction.

  • True ✅
  • False

Explanation:
The plus sign (+) and hyphen (-) are standard operators for addition and subtraction, respectively, in spreadsheet formulas.

Test your knowledge on using functions in spreadsheets

Practice Quiz

8. Data analysts use which of the following functions to quickly perform calculations in a spreadsheet? Select all that apply. .

  • MASS
  • AVERAGE ✅
  • MIN ✅
  • SUM ✅

Explanation:

  • AVERAGE: Calculates the mean of a range of values.
  • MIN: Finds the smallest value in a range.
  • SUM: Adds all the numbers in a range.
    MASS is not a valid spreadsheet function.

9. What is the term for a preset command in a spreadsheet?

  • Cell
  • Quotient
  • Function ✅
  • Range

Explanation:
A function is a predefined formula or command in a spreadsheet used to perform specific calculations or actions.

10. You are working with spreadsheet data about a cross-country relay race. Each runner’s times are located in cells H2 through H28. To find the runner with the slowest time, what is the correct function?

  • =MAX(H2:H28) ✅
  • =LOW(H2:H28)
  • =HIGH(H2-H28)
  • =MIN(H2-H28)

Explanation:
The MAX function identifies the largest value in a range, which corresponds to the slowest time in this context.

  • MIN finds the smallest value, not the slowest time.
  • LOW and HIGH are not valid spreadsheet functions.

Test your knowledge on structured thinking

Practice Quiz

11. What are the key elements of structured thinking? Select all that apply.

  • Organizing available information ✅
  • Implementing a solution
  • Recognizing the current problem or situation ✅
  • Revealing gaps and opportunities in order to identify the options ✅

Explanation:
Structured thinking involves analyzing and organizing information, understanding the current situation, and identifying gaps or opportunities to solve problems. Implementing a solution is not a key element of structured thinking but rather a subsequent step.

12. Fill in the blank: A scope of work is an agreed-upon _____ of the work you’re going to perform on a project.

  • to-do list
  • diagram
  • outline ✅
  • report

Explanation:
A scope of work is an outline that defines the tasks, deliverables, and responsibilities involved in a project. It provides clarity and ensures all stakeholders understand the project’s boundaries.

13. What are some strategies to ensure your data is accurate and fair? Select all that apply.

  • Collect the data in an objective way ✅
  • Think through the “who, what, where, when, how, and why” of your data ✅
  • Use data that is very personal to you
  • Make sure you start with an accurate representation of the population in the sample ✅

Explanation:
Ensuring data accuracy and fairness requires objective collection methods, thoughtful consideration of the data’s context (5Ws + H), and a representative sample. Using data that is very personal to you can introduce bias and is not recommended.

*Weekly challenge 3*

Graded Quiz

14. Fill in the blank: In spreadsheets, data analysts begin _____ with an equal sign (=).

  • cells
  • numbers
  • formulas ✅
  • charts

15. Fill in the blank: The labels that describe the type of data contained in each column of a spreadsheet are called _____.

  • assignments
  • attributes ✅
  • allowances
  • aspects

16. Which of the following tasks might be performed using spreadsheets?

  • Maintain information about accounts ✅
  • Write a sales pitch
  • Develop communication skills
  • Land a new client

17. Formulas are created by the user, whereas functions are preset commands in spreadsheets.

  • True ✅
  • False

18. In the function =MAX(B5:B15), what does B5:B15 represent?

  • Observation
  • Column
  • Attribute
  • Range ✅

Explanation:
B5:B15 specifies a range of cells in column B, from row 5 to row 15. Ranges are collections of adjacent cells used in calculations.

19. What is the correct spreadsheet formula for multiplying cell H2 times cell H5?

  • =H2/H5
  • =H2^H5
  • =H2*H5 ✅
  • =H2xH5

20. To avoid bias when collecting data, a data analyst should keep what in mind?

  • Context ✅
  • Opinion
  • Stakeholders
  • Graphs

21. A data analyst might use descriptive column headers in order to achieve what goal?

  • Add context to their data ✅
  • Protect the spreadsheet
  • Alphabetize the spreadsheet data
  • Filter the data

22. To determine an organization’s annual budget, a data analyst might use a slideshow.

  • True
  • False ✅

23. Which of the following are ways that data analysts can add context to their data? Select all that apply.

  • Use descriptive column headers ✅
  • Consider where the data came from ✅
  • Create reports for stakeholders
  • Ask questions about the data ✅

Explanation:
Adding context involves understanding the data’s source, asking relevant questions, and using clear labels (e.g., descriptive column headers) to make the data meaningful and actionable.

24. In spreadsheets, formulas and functions end with an equal sign (=).

  • True
  • False ✅

25. A data analyst could use spreadsheets to achieve which of the following tasks?

  • Motivate employees
  • Write reports
  • Build code for a new app
  • Predict next quarter’s sales ✅

26. In the function =MAX(G3:G13), what does G3:G13 represent?

  • an attribute
  • an observation
  • The range ✅
  • a table

27. What is the correct spreadsheet formula for multiplying cell D5 times cell D7?

  • =D5xD7
  • =D5^D7
  • =D5*D7 ✅
  • =D5/D7

28. Fill in the blank: A data analyst considers which organization created, collected, or funded a dataset in order to understand its _____.

  • structure
  • detail
  • length
  • context ✅

29. Which of the following statements accurately describe formulas and functions? Select all that apply.

  • Formulas are instructions that perform specific calculations. ✅
  • Formulas may only be used once per spreadsheet column.
  • Functions are preset commands that perform calculations. ✅
  • Formulas and functions assist data analysts in calculations, both simple and complex. ✅

30. In the function =MAX(B5:B15), what does B5:B15 represent?

  • Attribute
  • Column
  • Observation
  • Range ✅

31. What is the correct spreadsheet formula for multiplying cell H2 times cell H5?

  • =H2*H5 ✅
  • =H2/H5
  • =H2xH5
  • =H2^H5

32. Both formulas and functions in spreadsheets begin with what symbol?

  • Equal sign (=) ✅
  • Colon (:)
  • Hyphen (-)
  • Bracket ([)

Explanation:
Both formulas and functions in spreadsheets start with an equal sign (=), which signals that a calculation or command will follow.

33. Fill in the blank: By negatively influencing data collection, ____ can have a detrimental effect on analysis.

  • objectivity
  • bias ✅
  • partiality
  • filtering

Explanation:
Bias introduces systematic errors in data collection or interpretation, leading to inaccurate analysis and unreliable results.

34. Attributes are used in spreadsheets for what purpose?

  • Analyze the data in a row
  • Insert data into each column
  • Add a new column
  • Label the data in each column ✅

Explanation:
Attributes act as labels for the type of data in a column, helping to organize and identify the information within the spreadsheet.

35. To determine an organization’s annual budget, a data analyst might use a slideshow.

  • True
  • False ✅

Explanation:
A spreadsheet is the correct tool for analyzing numerical data, such as an organization’s annual budget. Slideshows are for presenting information, not analyzing it.

36. Which of the following statements describes a key difference between formulas and functions?

  • Formulas contain words and numbers, and functions contain numbers only.
  • Formulas span two or more cells, and functions exist in only one cell.
  • Formulas are used in graphs, and functions are not.
  • Formulas are written by the user, and functions are already defined. ✅

Explanation:
Functions are prebuilt commands within the spreadsheet software, while formulas are custom expressions created by the user to perform specific calculations.

37. What do data analysts use to label the type of data contained in each column in a spreadsheet?

  • Tables
  • Menus
  • Attributes ✅

  • Headings

38. In the function =MAX(A1:A12), what does A1:A12 represent?

  • The range ✅
  • The operator
  • The maximum
  • The formula

39. Fill in the blank: Putting data into context helps data analysts eliminate _____.

  • labels
  • intolerance
  • bias ✅
  • fairness

40. What is the correct spreadsheet formula for multiplying cell K3 times cell K8?

  • =K3*K8 ✅
  • =K3xK8
  • =K3/K8
  • =K3^K8

Explanation:
The multiplication operator in spreadsheets is the asterisk (*), so the formula =K3*K8 correctly multiplies the values in cells K3 and K8.

Related contents:

Module 1: Ask effective questions
Module 2: Make data-driven decisions
Module 4: Always remember the stakeholder
Module 4: *Course challenge*

You might also like:

Course 1: Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
Course 3: Prepare Data for Exploration
Course 4: Process Data from Dirty to Clean
Course 5: Analyze Data to Answer Questions
Course 6: Share Data Through the Art of Visualization
Course 7: Data Analysis with R Programming
Course 8: Google Data Analytics Capstone: Complete a Case Study

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