← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Checking a result with the status bar summary

The bar at the bottom of a spreadsheet. Select a range of number cells to see their sum, average and count, then compare with your formula. Right-click it to choose what shows.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 23

Understanding Checking a result with the status bar summary in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: The formula and the status bar Sum for B2:B9 should match. If they differ, the formula may have a mistake. Selecting a range of number cells shows its sum, average and count in the status bar. You can compare that with your formula result. The status bar sits at the bottom of the spreadsheet window and updates as you select cells. Only the cells you select are included, so choose the range carefully.

Common mistakes: If the formula result and the status bar do not match, something is wrong. The step should say to check the formula, not that it is correct. 579 is the sum of the marks. The average of B2:B9 is 72.375, so the status bar should show Average 72.375.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 302–324) and word search (Modules 261–324).

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Learning

Duo

You want a quick check on your =SUM formula without writing another formula. What do you do?

Select the number cells and read the sum in the status barDelete the formula and type the numbers in again

Matches

Selecting only cell B2 and expecting the status bar to show the sum of all marks

↓

Only one cell is selected, so the status bar summarises just that cell. Select the whole range, such as B2:B9, first.

Applying

Meanings

Term

status bar

Meaning

The bar at the bottom of a spreadsheet. Select a range of number cells to see their sum, average and count, then compare with your formula. Right-click it to choose what shows.

Practice

=SUM(B2:B9)/COUNT(B2:B9)

Testing

Gaps

=(B2:B9)

Check Answer

Spots

3B10 shows 570, bar shows 579

4Not equal? Formula is correct

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Quick Questions

1. You want a quick check on your =SUM formula without writing another formula. What do you do?

A. Select the number cells and read the sum in the status bar ✓

B. Delete the formula and type the numbers in again

Selecting a range of number cells shows its sum, average and count in the status bar. You can compare that with your formula result.

2. Where does a spreadsheet show the sum, average and count of the cells you have selected?

A. The status bar at the bottom of the window ✓

B. The title bar of the chart

The status bar sits at the bottom of the spreadsheet window and updates as you select cells.

3. You select B2:B9 and the status bar says Sum: 579. Your formula =SUM(B2:B9) says 597. What should you do?

A. Investigate, because the two results should match and one is wrong ✓

B. Ignore it, because the status bar is only a rough guess

The status bar is a quick check. If it does not match your formula, look for a typing mistake or a wrong range.

4. Which statement about the status bar summary is true?

A. It always adds up the whole sheet

B. It works on the range of cells you have selected ✓

Only the cells you select are included, so choose the range carefully.

5. How can you change which results (like Max or Min) show in the status bar?

A. Type the names of the results into cell A1

B. Right-click the status bar and tick the ones you want ✓

Right-clicking the status bar opens a menu where you choose what shows, such as Average, Count, Min or Max.

Match the Pairs

Select B2:B9 and look at the status bar → Shows the sum, average and count of the selected numbers without typing a formula

Right-click the status bar → Opens a menu to choose which summary values show, such as Sum, Average or Count

Check your formula by selecting the same range and comparing the status bar Sum to the formula result → =SUM(B2:B9)

The status bar can quickly show the average of a selected range to compare with an AVERAGE formula → =AVERAGE(C2:C9)

Selecting only cell B2 and expecting the status bar to show the sum of all marks → Only one cell is selected, so the status bar summarises just that cell. Select the whole range, such as B2:B9, first.

Selecting A2:A9 (names) and expecting a sum and average in the status bar → The cells hold text, not numbers, so there is no sum or average. Select a range of number cells like B2:B9.

Key Term

status bar

The bar at the bottom of a spreadsheet. Select a range of number cells to see their sum, average and count, then compare with your formula. Right-click it to choose what shows.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =SUM(B2:B9)

Hint: Type the function that adds up a range. Its result should match the total shown in the status bar when you select B2:B9.

2. =AVERAGE(C2:C9)

Hint: Type the function that finds the mean of a range. Compare it with the average in the status bar after selecting the English marks.

3. =COUNT(B2:B9)

Hint: Type the function that counts how many cells hold numbers. It should agree with the count shown in the status bar.

4. =IF(SUM(B2:B9)=579,"Match","Check")

Hint: Type the operator that tests whether your formula result equals the sum you read from the status bar.

5. =SUM(D2:D9)

Hint: Type the range of all the Science marks, from row 2 to row 9 in column D. This is the range you would select to see its sum in the status bar.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Formula in B10: =SUM(B2:B9)

B Select B2:B9 and read the bar

C B10 shows 570, bar shows 579

D Not equal? Formula is correct

Line D — If the formula result and the status bar do not match, something is wrong. The step should say to check the formula, not that it is correct.

Question 2

A Formula: =AVERAGE(B2:B9)

B Select B2:B9, look at the bar

C Status bar: Average 579

D Both show 72.375: match

Line C — 579 is the sum of the marks. The average of B2:B9 is 72.375, so the status bar should show Average 72.375.

Question 3

A Formula: SUM(C2:C9)

B Select C2:C9 to check

C Status bar Sum: 605

D Both show 605: it matches

Line A — Every formula must start with =. It should be =SUM(C2:C9).

Question 4

A Formula in E2: =SUM(B2:D2)

B Select B2:B9 (Ava's marks)

C Status bar Sum: 243

D Same as E2, so it is right

Line B — B2:B9 is the whole Maths column. Ava's marks are in the row range B2:D2, which matches the formula.

Question 5

A =COUNT(B2:B9) gives 8

B Select B2:B9

C Status bar: Count 8

D Different count, formula works

Line D — If the count is different the formula may be wrong. Here the counts are both 8, so the line should say Same count.

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