Extensions

In this extension, you will use functions to determine your average score for each round you played.

The average score is another way of saying the typical score for each round.

Knowing your average score can help you notice trends over time, so you can see if you are improving as you continue to play.

There are different ways to determine the average of any set of numbers, but in this lesson we will use the mean.

You can measure the mean of each round by adding all the scores up, then dividing them by the number of rounds you played.

For example, if you played three rounds of the game and scored a 3, an 8, and a 4, your mean score would be 5.

Instead of adding and dividing by hand, you will use the functions COUNTA and AVERAGE, to calculate your average score.

To begin, open the spreadsheet you created in the main lesson and select your individual sheet.

Select the first cell in Column C, and use the COUNTA function to add all your scores.

Type the equals sign, then C-O-U-N-T-A.

Then select the cells you used in the first round, and press Enter to see your score for that round.

Find the score for each round you played.

Now that you can see your scores, find your average score for each round.

To do this, select a cell below your scores in Column B and type an equal sign, then A-V-E-R-A-G-E function.

Press Enter.

The left parenthesis will appear, so that you can type the function.

Inside the parenthesis, select the cell that shows the first round’s score.

Add a comma to separate the cell references, then select the cell with the second round’s score.

Add another comma and the cell with the third round’s score.

Once you have included the scores for every round, press Enter to get your average score per round.

After you play a few more rounds of the game, calculate your average score again to see if it has improved.

Now, it’s your turn: Use the COUNTA function to add all of your scores, And use the AVERAGE function to determine your average score.

Secure passwords are an important part of keeping your online information safe.

But how do you come up with passwords for all the different apps and websites you use?

In this extension, you will write a random character formula to make secure passwords.

Your formula will use functions to create random letters, numbers and symbols.

To start, create and rename a new spreadsheet.

Now, begin typing the random letter formula you created in the lesson.

Instead of completing the formula by pressing Enter, like you did in the lesson, add two right parentheses.

To be secure, most passwords need letters and numbers.

So the next function will make your formula add a random number to your password.

To begin, add an ampersand, which looks like this… The function for adding a random character is randbetween.

When you added the CHAR function first, you specified that you wanted a non-number character.

This time, you will not type CHAR, so randbetween will give you a number.

Type “randbetween,” then press Enter.

Now you need the formula to give you any random number.

So in the parentheses, type zero-comma-nine.

Close the parentheses, and add another ampersand.

Your formula so far should look like this: This formula is telling your spreadsheet to give you a random character between 65 and 90, which is a letter in ASCII code… After the random letter, it will give you a random number between 0 and 9.

Now, for extra security, add a symbol to your password.

Use the CHAR and randbetween functions again to add a symbol to your password.

In ASCII code, symbols like an exclamation point, dash or pound sign are represented by numbers ranging from 33 to 47.

So add a formula that will generate random characters between 33 and 47.

Keep adding to your formula.

Type formulas for random numbers or letters, with ampersands between them, until your password is at least six characters long.

Once you have completed the full formula for your password, press Enter.

If your password doesn’t generate, double check your formula.

Now that you have written your formula on your spreadsheet, you can get a new password any time you want, just by refreshing the page or pressing the Delete key.

One important note: never keep your passwords written on the spreadsheet or in any other app.

Instead, save your passwords in a secure password manager, or in your Google Chrome browser.

Now that you can create a formula to generate a password, try creating passwords of different lengths, and with different amounts of letters, numbers, and symbols! Now, it’s your turn: Write the random letter formula to generate a letter, Write the random number function to generate a number, Write the random symbol formula to generate a symbol, And add ampersands between each symbol until you have created a password at least six characters long.

In this extension, you will use functions to make a countdown to an important date in your school year.

Making a countdown is a great way to help yourself budget your time when preparing for a big event.

Your countdown will give you two numbers: one will show you how many days are left until your event, and the other will show you how many school days are left.

First, think of an important event that you want to count down to.

It can be something you need to do for school, like an exam or presentation.

It can also be an event like a school dance or holiday or your birthday.

Once you have chosen your event, create and rename a new spreadsheet.

First, create a heading.

In cell A1, write the words “Today’s Date:” Now, use the TODAY function to display today’s date.

This function displays the current date every time you open or refresh your spreadsheet.

Move to the cell on the right to write the function.

Type "equals," then “today,” and press Enter twice.

The current date will appear in this cell.

In cell B1, type the name of the event you want to count down to, so you can remember it.

In B2, type the date of the event.

Use the same format as the TODAY function uses to display the date.

To calculate the number of days until your event, use the DAYS function.

In cell A5, type “Days Until,” and then the name of your event.

Now select cell B5 to start your function.

Type “equals” and the word “Days”.

Press "enter." A left parenthesis will appear.

Select the date of your event, type a comma, and select the current date.

This tells the formula to calculate the number of days from today’s date to the date of your event.

Press Enter to see the number of days until your event.

You can also use the NETWORKDAYS function to find the number of school days until your event.

This is a great tool to use to determine how many school days you have to prepare for an exam or set up for a school event.

Write a new heading for “School Days Until” your event.

Now type an equals sign and the NETWORKDAYS function.

Then press Enter.

This time, select the current date first, type a comma, and then the date of your event.

Press "enter" to see how many school days you have left to prepare for your event.

Since you used the TODAY function, this spreadsheet will automatically update as you move toward your event.

Now, it’s your turn: Use the TODAY function to display today’s date, Record the date of your event, Use the DAYS function to calculate the number of days until your event, And use the NETWORKDAYS function to calculate the number of school days until your event.