Lesson 8

Let's explore recursive formulas in spreadsheets.

Problem 1

Technology required. Open a blank spreadsheet. Use "fill down" to recreate this table of equivalent ratios. You should not need to type anything in rows 3–10.

Problem 2

A list of numbers is made with the pattern: Start with 11, and subtract 4 to find the next number.

Here is the beginning of the list: 11, 7, 3, . . .

Explain how you could use "fill down" in a spreadsheet to find the tenth number in this list. (You do not need to actually find this number.)

Problem 3

Here is a spreadsheet showing the computations for a different version of the birthday trick:

Explain what formulas you would enter is cells B4 through B8 so that cell B8 shows a number representing the month and day. (In this example, cell B8 should show 704.) If you have access to a spreadsheet, try your formulas with a month and day to see whether it works.

Problem 4

Write a formula you could type into a spreadsheet to compute the value of each expression.

1. $$\frac25$$ of 35
2. $$25 \div \frac53$$
3. $$\left( \frac{1}{11} \right) ^ 4$$
4. The average of 0, 3, and 17
(From Unit 1, Lesson 7.)

Problem 5

The data set represents the number of cars in a town given a speeding ticket each day for 10 days.

• 2
• 4
• 5
• 5
• 7
• 7
• 8
• 8
• 8
• 12
1. What is the median? Interpret this value in the situation.
2. What is the IQR?
(From Unit 1, Lesson 5.)

Problem 6

The data set represents the most recent sale price, in thousands of dollars, of ten homes on a street.

• 85
• 91
• 93
• 99
• 99
• 99
• 102
• 108
• 110
• 115
1. What is the mean?