Excel - Chapter 3 - Analyzing Data with Pie Charts, Line Charts, and What-If Analysis Tools

Line chart

A chart type that displays trends over time; time displays along the bottom axis and the data point values are connected with a line.

Axis

A line that serves as a frame of reference for measurement and which borders the chart plot area.

Value axis

A numerical scale on the left side of a chart that shows the range of numbers for the data points; also referred to as the Y-axis.

Formula AutoComplete

An Excel feature which, after typing an = (equal sign) and the beginning letter or letters of a function name, displays a list of function names that match the typed letter(s).

x-axis

Another name for the category axis.

y-axis

Another name for the value axis.

Category axis

The area along the bottom of a chart that identifies the categories of data; also referred to as the x-axis.

Plot area

The area bounded by the axes of a chart, including all the data series.

Percent for new value = base percent + percent of increase

The formula for calculating a percentage by which a value increases by adding the base percentage—usually 100%—to the percent increase.

Value after increase = base x percent for new value

The formula for calculating the value after an increase by multiplying the original value—the base—by the percent for new value (see the Percent for new value formula).

Rate = amount of increase/base

The mathematical formula to calculate a rate of increase.

Order of operations

The mathematical rules for performing multiple calculations within a formula.

Percentage rate of increase

The percent by which one number increases over another number.

Base

The starting point when you divide the amount of increase by it to calculate the rate of increase.

Major unit

The value in a chart's value axis that determines the spacing between tick marks and between the gridlines in the plot area.