16. Practice Exercises with Answer Hints
16.7 Module 8: Charts
- Clustered column chart of city sales, sorted largest to smallest. Hint: sort the source first; Insert › Charts › Clustered Column.
- Line chart of daily sales for October 2026 with the Diwali peak labelled. Hint: add one data label on the peak point (right-click the point › Add Data Label).
- Combo chart: sales (columns) and delivery minutes (line on a secondary axis). Hint: Insert › Combo › Custom Combination › tick Secondary Axis for the line.
- When would you use a pie chart, and when not? Hint: part-of-whole with 2–5 categories; not for trends or many categories.
- Sparklines of monthly sales for each city. Hint: Insert › Sparklines › Line; data range = month columns.
- A chart that changes when a city is chosen from a drop-down.
Hint: Data Validation list + helper row with
XLOOKUPorINDEX-MATCH; chart on the helper row.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
Many students select the Grand Total in the chart too – then one huge bar makes all the city bars look tiny. When selecting the range for a chart, leave out the total row/column. And write an insight in the chart title, not just "Chart 1".
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – मराठी
बरेच students chart मध्ये Grand Total पण select करतात – मग एक भला मोठा bar सगळे city bars छोटे दाखवतो. Chart साठी range select करताना total row/column वगळा. आणि chart title मध्ये insight लिहा, फक्त "Chart 1" नाही.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – हिंदी
बहुत से students chart में Grand Total भी select कर लेते हैं – फिर एक बहुत बड़ा bar सारे city bars को छोटा दिखाता है. Chart के लिए range select करते समय total row/column छोड़ दो. और chart title में insight लिखो, सिर्फ़ "Chart 1" नहीं.
Worked example — module 8 charts
Why
Sana Sheikh in Pune and Yuki Tanaka abroad both need a clear, repeatable way to use module 8 charts on a Orbit Logistics sheet without breaking totals.
What
Module 8 Charts is the Excel idea this page teaches. We will walk one tiny example end to end.
How
- Open a blank sheet. In A1 type a short label for module 8 charts.
- Enter a small made-up value for Sana Sheikh using ₹ where money appears.
- Add a second value for Yuki Tanaka using $ so you see mixed currencies stay numeric.
- Apply the method from this lesson step by step (menu or formula as shown above).
- Check the result still works inside SUM or a simple check cell.
Formula / action
Follow the formula or ribbon steps shown in this lesson (keep values numeric).Meaning: Once module 8 charts is correct on one row, copy the same pattern down the column.
Practice tasks (10+)
Try these on a blank sheet. Open a hint only if you are stuck. No quiz — just practice.
1. Rebuild the smallest example of module 8 charts on a blank sheet for Maple Bakery Co.
Hint: Use only the steps on this page. Keep numbers numeric.
2. Change one input for Aarti Kulkarni and confirm the result updates.
Hint: If the result is stuck, check absolute vs relative references.
3. Repeat the same steps with a £ or € value for Carlos Rivera.
Hint: Formatting must not break SUM.
4. Write the result meaning in one plain sentence next to the cell.
Hint: Imagine explaining it to a new joiners.
5. Add a second row and fill the method down.
Hint: Double-click the fill handle if the pattern is consistent.
6. Break the example on purpose, then fix it using this lesson.
Hint: Common break: text instead of a number.
7. Apply module 8 charts to a 5-row made-up Maple Bakery Co table.
Hint: Keep column headers clear.
8. Check your answer with a simple total or COUNT.
Hint: A wrong total usually means a format or key mismatch.
9. Swap ₹ and $ on one column and re-check totals.
Hint: Stored values stay the same; only the display changes.
10. List two mistakes beginners make with module 8 charts.
Hint: Look back at the tip box on this page.
11. Teach the steps out loud in under one minute.
Hint: Why → What → How.
12. Save the sheet as MapleBakery_practice.xlsx.
Hint: Use a clear file name for class.
Quick revision cards
Three standalone cards. Each one explains the idea with its own example. Scan the QR to open this lesson.
