Creating Charts in Excel

Step 1: Create a column of valuesGo to cell A1 and enter the value “0.”After hitting ENTER, you should be in cell A2.Go to Edit -> Go To... and enter A360.

From cell A360, depress the SHIFT+COMMAND keys, and hit the UP arrow. All cells from A1 to A360 should be selected.

With this range of cells selected, go to Edit -> Fill -> Down. This pastes the top cell’s contents, the value “0,” into every selected cell below it.

This anonymous column of numbers may now be copied and pasted, giving you ranges of cells to easily select and alter.

Go to cell A1. Depress SHIFT + COMMAND and the DOWN arrow to select your column of values. Go to Edit -> Copy.

Go to cell B1, and go to Edit -> Paste. A column of zeroes should appear under this cell. Do the same thing in cells C1, D1, and E1.

Column A: A sequence of values (degrees)Go to cell A2. Go to the formula bar and enter the character = and click in cell A1. The cell number should appear. Now enter +1.The complete formula should appear as =A1+1A value of “1” should appear in the cell. With cell A2 selected, depress SHIFT+COMMAND and the DOWN ARROW to select all cells below it. Go to Edit -> Fill -> Down to paste the formula into all cells. A series of values from 0 to 359 should now appear in column A.

NOTE: This is a relative formula, because no specific cells are entered, just a command to look upwards one cell.

Column D: Another sine waveGo to cell D1. Go to the formula bar, enter =1*sin(1*(, then click on cell B1, then +0)). The complete formula should appear as:=1*sin(1*(B1+0))Change the values of the amplitude, frequency, and initial phase to something else.Go to cell D1, and depress SHIFT + COMMAND and the the DOWN ARROW to select the values in column D. With cell D1 still selected, go to Edit -> Fill -> Down to paste the formula into all cells.

Column E: Sum of two wavesGo to cell E1. Go to the formula bar, enter = then click on cell C1, then +, then click on cell D1. The complete formula should appear as:=C1+D1Change the values of the amplitude, frequency, and initial phase to something else.Go to cell E1, and depress SHIFT + COMMAND and the the DOWN ARROW to select the values in column E. With cell E1 still selected, go to Edit -> Fill -> Down to paste the formula into all cells.

frequency

amplitude initial phase

=1*sin(1*(B1+0))

Column C: A sine waveGo to cell C1. Go to the formula bar, enter =1*sin(1*(, then click on cell B1, then +0)). The complete formula should appear as:=1*sin(1*(B1+0))Go to cell C1, and depress SHIFT + COMMAND and the the DOWN ARROW to select the values in column C. With cell C1 still selected, go to Edit -> Fill -> Down to paste the formula into all cells.

This formula contains the three characteristics of any sine wave:

Column B: Convert degrees to radiansGo to cell B1. Go to the formula bar, enter=, click in cell A1, and enter *pi()/180. The complete formula should appear as=A1*pi()/180Go to cell B1, and depress SHIFT + COMMAND and the the DOWN ARROW to select the values in column B. With cell B1 still selected, go to Edit -> Fill -> Down to paste the formula into all cells.

Step 2: Replace the values with formulas

Step 3: Plot valuesGo to Edit -> Go To and enter C360.With this cell selected, depress SHIFT + COMMAND and the UP ARROW to select all values in column C.With the column of values selected and cell C1 selected, depress SHIFT and RIGHT ARROW twice to select the values in columns D and E.

With the three columns highlighted, click on the Chart Wizard.

At the dialog box, select Line chart. Select any sub-type. Click Next for further options, or simply click Finish.

The chart appears in your spreadsheet, superimposed on the data.

Any changes made to the data will automatically update the chart. Change the frequency, amplitude, or initial phase of a column of cells, and the change will be reflected in the chart.

Further formatting changes can be made by clicking on the chart to select it and looking in the Chart menu that appears. More options can be found by double-clicking the chart.

BONUS: A shortcutYou can speed up the process of changing the data by using absolute formula references that address a specific cell no matter where the formula appears.

For example, you might want to experiment with an initial phase offset in column D.

Go to cell F1. Enter the initial phase offset in degrees.

Now go to cell D1. Change the phase offset portion of its formula:

=1*sin(1*(B1+$F$1))

Copy this formula to all cells in column D. Now all cells in column D will be offset by the value in cell F1.

Simply change the value in cell F1 and the chart will adjust itself automatically.

Step 4: Printing the chartClick once on the chart to select it, then go to File -> Print.