Using Excel to Analyze the Results of a Simple Survey

Chocolate / 6 students
Strawberry / 5 students
Vanilla / 4 students
Peach / 3 students
Chocolate Ripple / 2 students
Butter Pecan / 2 students
Neapolitan / 1 student
Black Cherry / 1 student

Scenario: A class of students was surveyed to determine their favorite ice cream flavor. The following results were obtained:

A spreadsheet will be used to find:

  1. The total number of students in the survey
  2. The percentage of preference for each flavor
  3. A graph or chart to display the results in a graphical format

Step 1. Open a new Excel Worksheet.

Step 2. Data Entry:

  1. Enter “Ice Cream Survey” in cell A1
  2. Enter “Flavor” in cell A2
  3. Enter “Number” in Cell B2
  4. Enter the flavor names in cells A3 to A10
  5. Enter the corresponding number in cells B3 to B10
  6. Enter “Total” in Cell A11
  7. Bold the text in A1, A2, B2, and A11

Step 3. Put your cursor over the cell B11 and click to select the cell. You are going to ask Excel to find the total of the column of numbers you typed in cells B3 to B10.

Step 4. Be sure that cell B11 is selected, and then click on the Sum button. It is the Greek letter sigma, and looks like the letter M lying on its side.

Step 5. Excel will select the set of numbers above the equation which you just entered. If the numbers from B3 to B10 are highlighted accept the equation by pressing the Enter/Return key. The equation entered by Excel should be =SUM (B3:B10).

The number 24 should be displayed in cell B11 after you press the Enter/Return key.

Step 6. Save as Ice Cream Survey under your ID#

Creating a Chart or Graph

Step 1. If Ice Cream Survey is not open, please open

Step 2. Highlight data to be graphed. Do not include the row with heading titles, only the flavors of ice cream and the numbers. (Select A2, click, hold down the mouse and drag to cell B10.)

Step 3. With the range of A2:B10 selected, we are ready to insert a chart. Go to the Insert menu on your ribbon

Step 4. Go to Charts and Pie.Choose the chart type: Exploded pie in 3D

Step 5. Click on the chart border; hold down the mouse to move the upper left corner of the chart to cell A13.

Step 6. Double click on the chart title to change the title to “Favorite Ice Cream”

Ice Cream Survey /
Flavor / Number
Chocolate / 6
Strawberry / 5
Vanilla / 4 /
Peach / 3
Chocolate Ripple / 2
Butter Pecan / 2
Neapolitan / 1
Black Cherry / 1
Total / 24