Today you will
- show every formula on one of your project sheets
- find what each formula reads from, and what reads from it
- take a screenshot of your formulas for your portfolio
Warm-up
Think of one formula in your project spreadsheet, like a total or a VAT line. If it showed the wrong answer, which cells would you check first?
Show formulas view shows the formula in every cell instead of the answer.
A precedent is a cell that a formula reads from. It is an input.
A dependent is a cell whose formula uses another cell. It changes when that cell changes.
A spot-check means working out one formula by hand to check the sheet.
Example
Cell D2 holds {{formula:=B2*C2}}, so B2 and C2 are its precedents. The total in D5 is {{formula:=SUM(D2:D4)}}, so D5 is a dependent of D2.
You will show the formulas on one of your own project sheets, find precedents and dependents, and take a screenshot. Follow the steps in the box below.
If your sheet has no formulas yet, add a practice tab and type in this table.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Net € | Qty | Line total € |
| 2 | Milk 2L | 1.45 | 12 | =B2*C2 |
| 3 | Bread | 1.20 | 8 | =B3*C3 |
| 4 | Eggs (box) | 2.80 | 5 | =B4*C4 |
| 5 | Total | =SUM(D2:D4) |
Use this shape for your notes.
Formula: ________ Precedents: ________
Dependent knock-on: ________
Common issues
- The shortcut does nothing. Use the menu: {{menu:Formulas -> Show Formulas}} in Excel, or {{menu:View -> Show -> Formulas}} in Google Sheets.
- My screenshot only shows numbers. Turn show formulas back on, wait until you can see {{code:=}} signs, and take it again.
- I can't find trace arrows. They only work in desktop Excel, so use show formulas view instead.
What your evidence page looks like
Here is a model of {{code:sm3_formula_audit}}. Use the same layout, but put in the cells from your own sheet.
Title: Formula audit, [your project name]
Screenshot: [your show-formulas screenshot here]
Formula 1: In D2: =B2*C2.
Precedents: B2 (net €), C2 (qty).
Formula 2: In D5: =SUM(D2:D4).
Precedents: D2, D3, D4 (the line totals).
Dependent knock-on: If C2 (qty) changed, D2 would change, and the D5 total would change with it.
Your page needs three parts: a screenshot, two formulas with their precedents, and one sentence about a dependent.
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