What Every Engineer Should Know About Excel: (What Every Engineer Should Know)

With the many software packages available today, it's easy to overlook the computational and graphics capabilities offered by Microsoft® Excel™. The software is nearly ubiquitous and understanding its capabilities is an enormous benefit to engineers in almost any field and at all levels of experience. What Every Engineer Should Know About Excel offers in nine self-contained chapters a practical guide to the features and functions that can be used, for example, to solve equations and systems of equations, build charts and graphs, create line drawings, and perform optimizations. The author uses examples and screenshots to walk you through the steps and build a strong understanding of the material. With this book, you will learn how to… Set up the keyboard for direct entry of most math and Greek symbols Build a default scatter graph that is applicable to most simple presentations with little cosmetic modification Apply many types of formats to adjust the cosmetics of graphs Use 3D surface and area charts for data and functional representations, with associated cosmetic adjustments Correlate data with various types of functional relations Use line drawing tools to construct simple schematics or other diagrams Solve linear and nonlinear sets of equations using multiple methods Curve student grades using Excel probability functions Model device performance using different types of regression analysis involving multiple variables Manipulate Excel financial functions Calculate retirement accumulation with variable contribution rate and retirement payouts to match increases in inflation Apply Excel methods for optimization problems with both linear and nonlinear relations Use pivot tables to manipulate both experimental data and analytical relationships Calculate experimental uncertainties using Excel And much more!

Table of Contents:
INTRODUCTION Getting the Most from Excel Conventions Outline of MISCELLANEOUS OPERATIONS IN EXCEL AND WORD Introduction Print Screen or Screen Dump Custom Keyboard Setup for Symbols in Word Viewing or Printing Column and Row Headings and Gridlines in Excel Assorted Instructions Moving Objects in Small Increments (Nudging) Formatting Objects in Word, Including Wrapping Formatting Objects in Excel Use of Photo-Editing Software in Word, Including Wrapping Copying Cell Formulas: Effect of Relative and Absolute Addresses Copying Formulas by Dragging the Fill Handle Shortcut for Changing the Status of Cell Addresses Switching and Copying Columns or Rows, and Changing Rows to Columns or Columns to Rows Built-In Functions in Excel Creating Single-Variable Tables Using the DATA/TABLE Command Creating Two-Variable Tables Using the DATA/TABLE Command Problems CHARTS AND GRAPHS Introduction Moving Dialog Windows Excel Chart Wizard Window Showing Choice of x-y Scatter Charts Selecting and Adding Data for x-y Scatter Charts Changing and Adding Data for Charts Using the SOURCE DATA Command Adding Data to Charts Using the ADD DATA Command Adding Trendlines and Correlation Equations to Scatter Charts Equation for R2 Correlation of Experimental Data with Power Relation Use of Logarithmic Scales Correlation with Exponential Functions Use of Different Scatter Graphs for the Same Data Plot of a Function of Two Variables with Different Chart Types Plots of Two Variables with and without Separate Scales Charts Used for Calculation Purposes or G&A Format Stretching Out a Chart from a Single Chart Page Alternate Chart Sizing Procedure Using MS Word Calculation and Graphing of Moving Averages Bar and Column Charts Chart Format and Cosmetics Surface Charts Suggested Scatter Graph Setting as Default Chart An Exercise in 3-D Visualization Editing Excel Charts Using Word Editing Excel Tables Using Word Alternate Procedure Editing Excel Charts Directly in Word by Using Grouping Problems LINE DRAWINGS AND EMBEDDED OBJECTS IN EXCEL Introduction Constructing, Moving, and Inserting Straight Line Drawings Inserting Items in Excel with Symbols, Subscripts, and Superscripts Inserting Equations or Symbols in Word Using Equation Editor Inserting Equations and Symbols in Excel Using Equation Editor Construction of Line Drawings from Plotted Coordinates Problems SOLUTION OF EQUATIONS Introduction Solutions to Single Nonlinear Equations Using Goal Seek Solutions to Single Nonlinear Equations Using Solver Iterative Solutions to Simultaneous Linear Equations Solutions of Simultaneous Linear Equations Using Matrix Inversion Solutions of Simultaneous Nonlinear Equations Using Solver Solver Results Dialog Box Comparison of Methods for Solution of Simultaneous Linear Equations Copying Cell Equations for Repetitive Calculations Creating and Running Macros Problems OTHER OPERATIONS Introduction Numerical Evaluation of Integrals Use of Logical IF Statement Histograms and Cumulative Frequency Distributions Normal Error Distributions Calculation of Uncertainty Propagation in Experimental Results Fractional Uncertainties for Product Functions of Primary Variables Multivariable Linear Regression Multivariable Exponential Regression Problems FINANCIAL FUNCTIONS AND CALCULATIONS Introduction Nomenclature Compound Interest Formulas Investment Accumulation with Increasing Annual Payments Payout at Variable Rates from an Initial Investment Problems OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS Introduction Graphical Examples of Linear and Nonlinear Optimization Problems Solutions Using Solver Solver Answer Reports for Examples Nomenclature for Sensitivity Reports Nomenclature for Answer Reports Nomenclature for Limits Reports Problems PIVOT TABLES Introduction Other Summary Functions for Data Fields Restrictions on Pivot Table Formulas Calculating and Charting Single or Multiple Functions f(x) vs. x Using Pivot Tables Calculating and Plotting Functions of Two Variables Problems REFERENCES INDEX