Libre Office Calc — Class 8 Science (Samacheer Kalvi)
TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 8 Science, Computer Science — Chapter 23. The spreadsheet — storing and calculating with data.
1. About this chapter
This chapter covers LibreOffice Calc — the spreadsheet, worksheet and workbook, cells, rows and columns, entering and formatting data, operators and functions, sorting, and charts.
2. The spreadsheet, cells and cell address
- LibreOffice Calc is a free spreadsheet program for storing data in a grid and doing calculations.
- A workbook is the whole file; it contains one or more worksheets. Each worksheet is a grid of rows (numbered 1, 2, 3…) and columns (lettered A, B, C…).
- A cell is the box where a row and column meet. Its cell address is the column letter + row number, e.g. B3.
- Merge cells joins two or more cells into one (used for headings); auto-fill generates a series automatically (e.g. 1, 2, 3…).
3. Operators and functions
- Every formula begins with an "=" sign. Operators include + − * / for arithmetic and the ampersand (&) to join text.
- Common functions:
| Function | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SUM | total of values | =SUM(A2:A6) |
| AVERAGE | mean of values | =AVERAGE(A2:A6) |
| MAX | largest value | =MAX(A2:A6) |
| MIN | smallest value | =MIN(A2:A6) |
| COUNT | how many numbers | =COUNT(A2:A6) |
4. Sorting and charts
- Sorting arranges data in ascending or descending order.
- A chart turns numbers into a picture (bar, column, pie, line) so the data is easier to understand.
5. Worked examples
Example 1. What is the address of the cell in column B, row 3? B3.
Example 2. Which function gives the total of A2 to A6? =SUM(A2:A6).
Example 3. Which symbol begins every formula? The = (equals) sign.
6. Book-back questions (Samacheer Kalvi)
I. Choose the correct answer
- The total of a set of values is found using the — (a) SUM / (b) MIN function. Ans: (a) SUM.
- The function that returns the smallest value is — (a) MAX / (b) MIN. Ans: (b) MIN.
- The character used to join text in a formula is the — (a) ampersand (&) / (b) asterisk. Ans: (a) ampersand.
- The function used to count the cells that contain numbers is — (a) COUNT / (b) SUM. Ans: (a) COUNT.
- A workbook contains one or more — (a) worksheets / (b) charts. Ans: (a) worksheets.
II. Fill in the blanks 6. The intersection of a row and a column is called a cell. 7. Every formula in Calc begins with the = sign. 8. The address of a cell is its column letter and row number.
III. Answer briefly 9. What is the use of the SUM function? Give an example. 10. What is the purpose of a chart in Calc?
7. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Forgetting the "=" before a formula. Fix: Every formula must start with =, e.g. =SUM(A2:A6).
- Mistake: Writing the cell address as row-then-column (e.g. 3B). Fix: It is column letter then row number → B3.
- Mistake: Using MAX to find the smallest value. Fix: MIN gives the smallest; MAX gives the largest.
8. Quick revision
- Computer Science Ch 23 · LibreOffice Calc.
- Workbook → worksheets → grid of rows (numbers) and columns (letters); cell = intersection; address = B3.
- Formula starts with "="; ampersand (&) joins text.
- Functions: SUM (total), AVERAGE (mean), MAX (largest), MIN (smallest), COUNT (how many numbers).
- Sorting orders data; charts visualise it.
