Hands-on Excel for Quantitative Problem Solving

Master Excel tools to solve equations, plot graphs with error bars, perform integration, and analyze scenarios

Created byDr. Pankaj Kumar

Last updated 5/2025

English

What you'll learn

Format and manage Excel worksheets professionally, including layout, sorting, referencing, and data organization.
Create and customize graphs with error bars, trend lines, and other visual elements to represent and interpret data effectively.
Solve mathematical problems such as systems of equations, numerical integration, and differentiation using Excel formulas and built-in tools.
Apply analytical tools like Goal Seek, Solver, and Scenario Manager to perform optimization and decision-making for real-world problems.

Course content

5 sections • 6 lectures • 5h 2m total length

Introduction: Fundamentals of Excel sheet, working with excel sheet1:00:19
Introduction to Excel: Formatting and Layout, Page orientation, Size, Breaks, Header/Footer, Headings, Font, Height and Width, Color, Lines, Alignment, Merge, Wrap, Sheets titles, Fill, Sort, Absolute and Relative referencing

Data Visualization in Excel: Creating Plots with Error Bars and Trendlines34:36
In this section, students will learn to visually represent data using Excel’s charting tools. They will create basic plots such as line, bar, and scatter charts, enhance them with error bars to reflect data variability, and apply trendlines to analyze patterns and relationships. Additionally, students will explore chart customization options—including axis labels, legends, colors, and layout—to effectively communicate insights through professional-quality visualizations.
Forecasting and trendline34:48
Forecasting and Trendline in Excel involve using historical data to predict future values and identify data patterns. A trendline is a graphical representation of trends in a data series, such as linear, exponential, or polynomial relationships. By applying a trendline to a chart, users can visualize the direction of data over time and use the forecasting feature to project future values, aiding in decision-making and planning based on data trends.

Solving Linear Equations in Excel: Matrix Methods and Solver Tool1:00:48
In this lecture, students will learn how to solve systems of linear equations using Excel’s built-in matrix functions such as MMULT, MINVERSE, and TRANSPOSE. They will also explore the Solver add-in to handle more complex equation systems and optimization problems with constraints. This session emphasizes practical problem-solving using structured inputs and Excel’s computational tools.

Numerical Integration and Differentiation in Excel: From Data Tables to Equation55:33
In this lecture, students will learn how to perform numerical integration and differentiation using Excel. They will apply methods such as the trapezoidal rule and finite difference formulas to analyze tabular data and mathematical functions. The session focuses on using Excel formulas to approximate areas under curves and calculate rates of change, enabling practical application of calculus concepts without programming.

Root Finding and Scenario Analysis in Excel: Goal Seek and Scenario Manager56:43
In this lecture, students will explore how to find the roots of polynomial equations using Excel’s Goal Seek tool, allowing them to determine input values for desired outcomes. They will also learn to use the Scenario Manager to create, manage, and compare multiple data scenarios, enabling effective decision-making and what-if analysis in real-world applications.

Requirements

Fundamental understanding of high school-level mathematics

Description

Unlock the full potential of Microsoft Excel to solve real-world quantitative problems with confidence and precision. This hands-on course is designed for students, educators, and professionals who want to go beyond basic spreadsheets and apply Excel to mathematical modeling, data visualization, and decision-making.

Through practical examples and guided exercises, you will learn how to format data professionally, create customized graphs with error bars and trendlines, and apply mathematical techniques like solving systems of equations, numerical integration, and differentiation. You'll also gain experience using powerful Excel tools like Goal Seek, Solver, and Scenario Manager to evaluate different outcomes and optimize results.

Whether you're working on academic projects, engineering calculations, or data-driven reports, this course will give you the skills to approach complex problems analytically—using Excel as your primary tool. By the end of this course, you will:

Build and format structured Excel sheets for problem-solving
Plot and interpret data with error bars and customized charts
Solve equations and perform calculus operations using Excel formulas
Use Goal Seek and Solver for optimization and scenario analysis
Data formatting and visualization
Plotting graphs with error bars and trendlines
Solving systems of equations using matrix methods and Solver
Numerical integration and differentiation from data or equations
Goal Seek and Scenario Manager for root finding and decision analysis

Who this course is for:

Students in engineering, science, commerce, or data-driven disciplines looking to strengthen their Excel skills.

Hands-on Excel for Quantitative Problem Solving

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction: Data formatting and visualization, Absolute & Relative referencing1 lecture • 1hr

Simple plots, Graphing with error and trend lines2 lectures • 1hr 9min

Solving system of equations using matrix methods and the solver1 lecture • 1hr 1min

Numerical integration and differentiation from data and from equation1 lecture • 56min

Finding roots of a polynomial - Goal seek, Finding the results1 lecture • 57min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: