Tools for Calculating: Spreadsheets     Spreadsheets provide number crunching for mathphobs. They give users a chance to make calculations, try out new ideas, and visualize the results.   Explore topics for spreadsheet projects.   Spreadsheet Activities   Activity One: Build a Spreadsheet Do some online comparison shopping. Explore the following sites and compare the price of three items. Make a simple spreadsheet that lists the place, the item, and the price. An easy place to start is with the titles of three books, movies, or CDs. amazon.com barnesandnoble.com borders.com powells.com etoys.com bluefly.com outletmall.com cybershop.com landsend.com gap.com   Activity Two: Use Online Calculators Create a short activity using an online calculator. Postal Service Rates: http://ircalc.usps.gov/ Salary Calculator: http://www.homefair.com/homefair/cmr/salcalc.html Distances: http://www.indo.com/distance Time: http://tycho.usno.navy.nil/time.html Construction Calculator: http://www.bhglive.com/homeimp/docs/ Food Finder: http://www.shapeup.org/sua/ Heath Data: http://www.who.int/whosis Labor Statistics: http://stats.bls.gov Math Formulas: http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/appe.html   Activity Three: Create a Spreadsheet Use a spreadsheet as a calculator to estimate. How many books in the library? How many seats in the auditorium? How bricks on the building? How many "keyboard keys" in the computer lab? Back to the Secondary Project Page Developed by Annette Lamb, 7/99. Updated 10/99.