Comparison of projected vs. actual expenses in an Excel table.
Excel spreadsheet showing expense types with projected and actual costs, and a difference calculation in column D.
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Step-by-step solution for: Create Spreadsheet in Excel | How to Create Spreadsheet in Excel?
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Create Spreadsheet in Excel | How to Create Spreadsheet in Excel?
Problem Description:
The image shows an Excel spreadsheet that tracks expenses under different categories. The columns are as follows:
- Column A: Expense Type (e.g., Housing, Entertainment, etc.)
- Column B: Projected Cost ($)
- Column C: Actual Cost ($)
- Column D: Difference ($)
The formula in cell `D2` is `=B2-C2`, which calculates the difference between the projected cost and the actual cost for the "Housing" category. The task is to solve the problem by explaining how this formula works and ensuring it is applied correctly across all rows.
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Solution Explanation:
#### Step 1: Understanding the Formula
The formula in cell `D2` is `=B2-C2`. This formula subtracts the value in cell `C2` (Actual Cost) from the value in cell `B2` (Projected Cost). The result represents the difference between the projected and actual costs for the "Housing" category.
- Projected Cost (B2): $1500
- Actual Cost (C2): $1400
- Difference (D2): $1500 - $1400 = $100
Thus, the difference for "Housing" is $100.
#### Step 2: Applying the Formula to Other Rows
To calculate the difference for all expense categories, the same formula should be applied to cells in column `D` for rows 3 to 9. The formula can be dragged down or copied to these cells. Here’s how it works for each row:
- Row 3 (Entertainment):
- Projected Cost (B3): $0
- Actual Cost (C3): $50
- Difference (D3): $0 - $50 = -$50
- Row 4 (Transportation):
- Projected Cost (B4): $250
- Actual Cost (C4): $250
- Difference (D4): $250 - $250 = $0
- Row 5 (Loans):
- Projected Cost (B5): $1500
- Actual Cost (C5): $1500
- Difference (D5): $1500 - $1500 = $0
- Row 6 (Insurance):
- Projected Cost (B6): $200
- Actual Cost (C6): $200
- Difference (D6): $200 - $200 = $0
- Row 7 (Tax):
- Projected Cost (B7): $0
- Actual Cost (C7): $150
- Difference (D7): $0 - $150 = -$150
- Row 8 (Food):
- Projected Cost (B8): $500
- Actual Cost (C8): $650
- Difference (D8): $500 - $650 = -$150
- Row 9 (Personal Care):
- Projected Cost (B9): $0
- Actual Cost (C9): $125
- Difference (D9): $0 - $125 = -$125
#### Step 3: Calculating the Grand Total Differences
The grand total differences can be calculated by summing up all the values in column `D`. However, since the grand totals in columns `B` and `C` are already provided in row 10, we can verify the overall difference as follows:
- Projected Total (B10): $3950
- Actual Total (C10): $4325
- Grand Total Difference: $3950 - $4325 = -$375
This matches the sum of individual differences in column `D`.
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Final Answer:
The formula `=B2-C2` is correctly applied to calculate the difference between projected and actual costs. The results for each row are as follows:
| Expense Type | Projected Cost ($) | Actual Cost ($) | Difference ($) |
|-------------------|--------------------|-----------------|----------------|
| Housing | 1500 | 1400 | 100 |
| Entertainment | 0 | 50 | -50 |
| Transportation | 250 | 250 | 0 |
| Loans | 1500 | 1500 | 0 |
| Insurance | 200 | 200 | 0 |
| Tax | 0 | 150 | -150 |
| Food | 500 | 650 | -150 |
| Personal Care | 0 | 125 | -125 |
The Grand Total Difference is \boxed{-375}.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of what is an excel worksheet.