Free. Exclusive. Just for you.
Four unique services that make learning easier, faster, and smarter - only on our website.

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.

Excel spreadsheet showing expense types with projected and actual costs, and a difference calculation in column D.

JPG 657×362 55.7 KB Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #718447
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.

---

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`.

---

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.
Print Download

How to use

Click Print to open a print-ready version directly in your browser, or use Download to save the file to your device. The ⭐ Answer button generates an AI answer key instantly - useful for teachers who need a quick reference. Need a different version? Our AI Worksheet Generator lets you create a custom worksheet on any topic in seconds.

(view all what is an excel worksheet)

How to Create a Worksheet in Excel?
How to Pull Data from Another Sheet in Excel | Retable
Microsoft Excel: Create an automated list of worksheet names ...
Excel Spreadsheet - How to Work With Excel Spreadsheet?
EXCEL Basics: Data Types and Data Input
Excel Workbook vs. Worksheet: Whats the Difference?
How many sheets are there in excel workbook by default - javatpoint
MS Excel: Work sheet, Rows, Columns and Cells - javatpoint
An Overview of Microsoft® Excel®
Create Spreadsheet in Excel | How to Create Spreadsheet in Excel?