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Contents
Introduction

Methodology

3-4

Entering Data
5-6
Analyzing Data
5-6
Creating Graphs
7-8
Editing Graphs
8
Entering and Evaluating Equations
9-10
Unit Conversions

11-12

Presenting the Work


13
Conclusion

14

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Introduction
Studying a STEM major comes with the expectation that you can use
technology fairly well and applications/ programs help with school. The wide
variety of programs to use makes it complicated to decide which one to use
for each problem encountered. The purpose of the white paper is to guide
STEM majors through Microsoft Excel and Mathcad and to inform which out of
the two to use for different situations those majors go through.
Microsoft Excel is a spread sheet designed for data placement and for
the user to use tools provided to analyze, calculate, and display information
with entries in the spreadsheet. Mathcad is a similar program designed as
engineering software to analyze, solve, and display calculations and
programming. Both of these programs are widely used throughout STEM
majors for different projects that classes bring to the students.
For this white paper, I am the user who tested each programs for
different tasks and analyzed which program is easier to use based on the
time it took, problems in countered, and the aesthetics. Im a STEM major
and am fully aware of the different types of problems classes ask for us
students to solve and what they want delivered. The tasks I performed in
each program will involve the use of data, calculations, graphs, programing,
and editing.

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Methodology
In designing this experiment, I separated the different steps a lot of
problems in STEM classes have. I decided to perform the experiment at
home, alone so that I wasnt around anyone to erupt of be tempted to ask for
help with either program; also since most homework for STEM majors is done
at home. Each task is evaluated on a scale 1-5, 1 being that I need a lot
more help, or to be taught how to do the task, 5 being that I had no problems
at all. The visual part of each task will be described because students prefer
different looks based on their taste in presenting data.
The tasks I designed and perform start with a set of data, time vs
position for a kicked ball. For the task of entering data, what is asked is to
enter the given data in table format, numerical order. The next task is
analyzing the data by taking the average velocity for the ball after the
velocity is calculated. With that, the next task is to create a graph of the time
vs. position for the ball. During these tasks, the given numbers for position
were in inches and time in seconds, the next task will be converting to feet
per minute for the average velocity. After these tasks are preformed and
each evaluated, a new situation was addressed.

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For the task of referencing variables and previous numbers, I designed


a problem that had many given quantities and asked to calculate the
Reynolds Number, equation given, based on the given values. The last task
is involved with creating this white paper. Taking results from each program
and placing them in this is the last task for which program is easier to handle
results from in order to present them how they need to be.
Each of these tasks were separately evaluated since the purpose is to
inform which program is easier to understand under the many different types
of problems that STEM majors are asked to solve.

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Entering Data
Table of Given Data for Task
Time (seconds)
0
1
2
3
4
5

Position (inches)
0
42
76
98
111
120

With the given data of a kicked ball above, it was asked to present that
data in each program. After preforming this task in Microsoft Excel and
Mathcad, I found that both programs are just as easy and quick to enter the
data in. The difference was the visual for each; since Microsoft Excel is a
spreadsheet the data is automatically in a bordered table as where Mathcad,
the data was just lined up on a blank sheet.
Analyzing Data
To analyze the data, the task was to find the average velocity after it
was calculated for each second based on the change in position. For this
task, Microsoft Excel was the easier program; it provides an option to find the
average value for a given table under the Editing tab. Mathcad took a little

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longer since I had to restart with entering the data in a table instead of just
typing the data out on the program.
Evaluation of Excel for Entering & Analyzing Data
Couldnt
Complete
Task
1

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct
2

Problems But
Pushed
Through
3

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Evaluation of Mathcad for Entering & Analyzing Data


Couldnt
Complete
Task
1

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct
2

Problems But
Pushed
Through
3

Overall Microsoft Excel is the easier program for entering and analyzing
data, visually these tasks looked more organized on excel due to the
spreadsheet format.

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Creating Graphs
The task performed to create graphs in each program was to take the data
given in the Entering Data section and create a time vs. position graph.
With this task I found that both programs are very similar, again. With
Microsoft Excel, I highlighted the time and position columns then under the insert
tab I selected the graph and decided to choose scatter plot since its the basic
graph and then the graph appeared (shown below).

Position (inches)
150
Position (inches)

100
50
0
0

In Mathcad I selected the graph button and a blank graph appeared and for
each axis I typed in the title, time and position, and the graph appeared (shown
below).

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Aesthetically, Microsoft Excel looked better but it didnt include titles on the x
and y axis.

Editing Graphs
For this section, the task was to edit the graphs by inserting a trend line and
labeling the x and y axis. This task showed that creating a graph in Mathcad results
in less editing since there are already labels on the x and y axis and a trend line. For
the trend line Microsoft Excel required steps such as right hand click on the data
points, format graph and add trend line. Microsoft Excel had more color and looked
more presentable than Mathcads graph.

Evaluation of Excel for Creating & Editing Graphs


Couldnt
Complete
Task
1

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct
2

Problems But
Pushed
Through
3

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Evaluation of Mathcad for Creating & Editing Graphs


Couldnt
Complete
Task

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct

Problems But
Pushed
Through

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Entering and Evaluating Equations


The task to determine the better program for using equations was to
calculate the Reynolds Number with the given data and equation below.

'

Reynol d s Number =

VL
v

v =KinematicViscosity =

106 m2
s

L=Length=100 m
V =Velocity=10

m
s

To perform this task in Microsoft Excel, I had to enter in the given quantities
into separate cells, and then in a blank cell type in the form, =(A2*B2)/C2 (shown
below).

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In Mathcad I typed out the given data how it is seen and then typing the
equation out equaling Re, then Mathcad presented the answer (shown below).

Overall both programs gave the same answer but Mathcad was much faster
because I didnt have to mess with typing each quantity in separately cells and
referencing them in the equation. Mathcad had me type out the quantities and
equation just as they are given in the problem.

Evaluation of Excel for Entering & Evaluating Equations


Couldnt
Complete
Task
1

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct
2

Problems But
Pushed
Through
3

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Evaluation of Mathcad for Entering & Evaluating Equations

P a g e | 11

Couldnt
Complete
Task
1

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct
2

Problems But
Pushed
Through
3

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Unit Conversions
For STEM majors, units always need to be kept track of and can easily mess
up an answer to a problem. The given task was to convert the results from the
average velocity, in the section analyzing data, from inches per second to feet per
minute.
With this task, Mathcad was much easier because when you enter in an
equation to be evaluated a black, little square shows up and when I pressed it and
typed in ft/min the answer converted (shown below).

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In Microsoft Excel I had to create an equation to convert the average in a


separate cell by typing =B7*(60/12) (shown below). This could become more
complicated if the units were more excessive and has larger quantities in order to
convert.

Evaluation of Excel for Unit Conversions


Couldnt
Complete
Task
1

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct
2

Problems But
Pushed
Through
3

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Evaluation of Mathcad for Unit Conversions


Couldnt
Complete

Struggled A
Lot/ Not

Problems But
Pushed

P a g e | 13

Task

Correct

Through

Presenting the Work


For the last task, I decided to design it how to present the work done in each
program. There are many ways to present data, equations, and results. One way is
printing from the source, which in that case is similar in both programs since they
both outline where the print margins begins and end and I had to adjust accordingly
to print the results off correctly. Another way to present results is copying and
pasting into a report. In that case Microsoft Excel was much easier because its
format switched well into a report with tables and graphs. Mathcads format doesnt

P a g e | 14
switch well and is hard to move around the page of report; the tables and graphs
act as a picture and only stay in certain areas. Therefore Microsoft Excel is much
easier if you plan on using the results in a different report and not printing from the
program.

Evaluation of Excel for Presenting the Work


Couldnt
Complete
Task
1

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct
2

Problems But
Pushed
Through
3

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Fairly Easy,
took time

Got it Right
Away

Evaluation of Mathcad for Presenting the Work


Couldnt
Complete
Task
1

Struggled A
Lot/ Not
Correct
2

Problems But
Pushed
Through
3

Conclusion
Overall both programs are fairly similar in operations but aesthetically very
different. Excel appeals better to present but Mathcad looks as if the user worked
through the problem themselves by hand. The use of each program would depend
on the user but my evaluation is to use excel for data and graphs but use Mathcad

P a g e | 15
for equations, functions, and when units are more difficult to handle in a problem.
My evaluation turned out to be a score of 22/25 for Microsoft Excel and 20/25.

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