Volume Conversion Table in Excel

Volume Conversion Table

Investigate:

Units of measurement were among the earliest tools invented by humans. Primitive societies needed rudimentary measures for many tasks: constructing dwellings of an appropriate size and shape, fashioning clothing, or bartering food or raw materials.

The earliest known uniform systems of weights and measures seem to have all been created sometime in the 4th and 3rd millennium BC among the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Indus Valley.

Other systems were based on the use of parts of the body and the natural surroundings as measuring instruments. Early Babylonian and Egyptian records and the Bible indicate that length was first measured with the forearm, hand, or finger and that time was measured by the periods of the sun, moon, and other heavenly bodies. When it was necessary to compare the capacities of containers such as clay or metal vessels, they were filled with plant seeds which were then counted to measure the volumes. When means for weighing were invented, seeds and stones served as standards.

Source: http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_measurement

In this project, the basic units of volume were used:

1. Cubed Centimeters: used when measuring the amount of space inside a container. It is used in all countries except for the United States of America that uses its own measures and units. Cubed Centimeters is part of the SI, or System Internationale.

2. Cubed Inches: used when measuring the amount of space inside a container It is only used in the United States of America. The other countries use the System Internationale, while USA uses its own system.

3. Liters: used mostly when talking about liquids. It is used in all the countries except for the USA since they have their own system. Liters are also mostly used when talking about water or drinkable substances. Ex: buying bottles of water, quarts of orange juice.

4. Ounces: this is also a unit mostly used when talking about liquids. This unit is only used in the Unites States of America since the rest of the countries use the SI.

5. Tablespoons: this unit of volume is mostly used when cooking. Recipes use tablespoons so if people do not have cups or any way of measuring volume they can use their tablespoons to cook. Tablespoons are used for small amounts of liquid or small amounts of dusty substances/

6. Gallons: this unit is used in both SI and in the American system. It is used for large amounts of liquid such as the water in a pool or a water container.

This project’s mission, as said in the instruction sheet, is to create in Microsoft Excel a conversion table that converts any unit of volume to any other unit of volume. Create a Microsoft Power Point presentation that includes: definition of volume and all its units (including American and SI systems), explain, how the conversion table was done step by step, a conclusion and what follows.

The purpose of this project is to understand the different tools of Excel that let us do a very wide range of things, as well as interactive and fun activities. We have created a grade sheet in Excel, an interactive crossword puzzle, etc.

Design:

Before I created the conversion table in Excel, I thought of different designs for my project.

The first design was to make different tables, one for the Centimeters cubed and Inches cubed, and another table for liquid measurements (liters, ounces, tablespoons, gallons). I wanted to choose this design because I thought you could not convert distances, like cm, to liters for instance. But I was wrong so I decided to make it a single table.

When I did I made a table which could convert cm to any other volume unit as well as for inches, ounces, liters, gallons, and tablespoons to any other volume unit.

Plan:

This is the procedure I followed to create the conversion table in Excel.

1. Type (vertically and with two cells apart) in a blank Excel sheet, the units you are going to convert.

2. Then, one row above the first unit, write the same units in the same order horizontally.

3. Now, you have to investigate how many cm are in one inch. After you know, use the following formula: =product(the cell no. where the number that will be converted will be*how many cm are in one inch), you would get something like this: =product(D6*0.6). The formula has to be typed in the cell beneath Inches.

4. Do the same thing in other cells for the other units.

After it is done, when any number is typed in the Insert-a-number cell, all the other cells should change to their respective results.

Create:

In the project, I followed my own instructions that were given above. I did not modify or change anything since there is nothing else into it. The formulas I used to convert a unit to another unit were:

1 Cubed Cm = 0.06 Cubed Inches:

1 Cubed Cm = 0 Liters

1 Cubed Cm = 0.03 Ounces

1 Cubed Cm = 0.07 Tablespoons

1 Cubed Cm = 0 Gallon

1 Cubed Inch = 16.39 Cm

1 Cubed Inch = 0.02 Liters

1 Cubed Inch = 0.55 Ounces

1 Cubed Inch = 1.11 Tablespoons

1 Cubed Inch = 0 Gallons

1 Liter = 1,000 Cm

1 Liter = 0.02 Inches

1 Liter = 33.81 Ounces

1 Liter = 67.63 Tablespoons

1 Liter = 0.26 Gallons

1 Ounce = 29.57 Cm

1 Ounce = 1.80 Inches

1 Ounce = 0.03 Liters

1 Ounce = 2 Tablespoons

1 Ounce = 0.01 Gallons

1 Tablespoon = 14.79 Cm

1 Tablespoon = 0.9 Inches

1 Tablespoon = 0.5 Ounces

1 Tablespoon = 0.01 Liters

1 Tablespoon = 0 Gallons

1 Gallon = 3,785.41 Cm

1 Gallon = 231 Inches

1 Gallon = 128 Ounces

1 Gallon = 256 Tablespoons

1 Gallon = 3.79 Liters

The formulas above were taken from the Volume Conversion Table of the Organization Science Made Simple.

Evaluate

The Excel Conversion Table worked perfectly. The formulas were well written and each unit (Cm3, In3, Liters, Ounces, Gallons and Tablespoons) converted to other units. After I had finished my table, I worked on a Word Document that explained step by step how I did it, why I did it, and how it looked at the end.

I also did a Powerpoint Presentation that explained what volume was and its units, all in a more understandable language (4th Grade level). The presentation included visual images and graphs that explained with detail the topic but still in a lower language level.

I had several problems during the creation cycle. First, that the units would not convert. I had to redo all of the formulas again, and at the end it worked. The problem was that I was including a period at the end of the formula by accident, so some of the formulas would not work. A second probem was that the Cubic Inch part was wrong. I had copied the formula wrong form the Internet and the units converted to Inches were coming out wrong.

The product/solution can help me in life and others because, since there are different measuring systems around the world (Si and Amercian System), people will have to adapt and convert their own units to others because that is one of the most important ways you can understand/adapt to another region/country.

An Interactive Grade Book in Excel... Even though it sounds cool... It is not!

Like a week ago, Karela gave us an assignment that did not let me sleep! We had to create a Grade Book in Excel, but with the ability of calculating the average and the letter grade by itself. It sounded easy but... :( She said to take Powerschool as an example... It did not help. We thought it was a little hard compared to the other projects. We later found out that it was not easy. The assignment was like these: "You have to create an Interactive Grade Book with Excel. Once that you open Excel you have to make a list of students and give them grades in 5 assignments. The grade must be between 0-100. The assignments must go to specific categories: Projects, Test, and Participation. You have to Calculate the Final Grade considering the percents that are listed bellow. Also, the Final Grade must change in a second column, from a numaber to a letter. Projects: 50%; Test: 40%; Participation: 10%."

I'll explain what I did in these 5 steps:

1. Investigate: First of all, before I even opened the Excel new document, I went to Google and looked for "Grade Book in Excel" and I found a great website called: Education World (http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial009.shtml) where went step by step on how to do a grade book. I went to the "Techtorial" and learned how to do it but, even though it explained how to get the average and the sum, I had to do more research because it did not explain the IF function (will be explained further with more detail) which was the one needed to do the letter grades on the grade book.
2. Design: I designed the grade book in a separate piece of paper. I put a list of students which belonged to my classroom. I put the grades and the assignments. I put two tests, two projects and one grade on behavior. After the pair of projects I put another section called 50%, then after the pair of tests I put another section called 40% and after the behavior 10% with the purpose that I''l get the 50% of the prject grade that will be added to the 40%of the tests' and to the 10% of the behavior.
3. Plan: Now I opened the Excel sheet. I copied the table I did in the separate piece of paper and then I put the averages using the formula =average(cell,cell). I needed to plan how to make the letter grades appear by themselves. I did not know how to do that so I went back to the webpage to revise how to do it, but it did not explain how exactly and very detailed so I had to use logical reasoning. I went to the Excel help bar and looked for the IF function. Here they explained about the logical test, value if true and value if false. I only used value if true. I had to use this huge formula : =IF(L5<=59,"F",IF(L5<=62,"D-",IF(L5<=67,"D",IF(L5<=69,"D+",IF(L5<=73,"C-",IF(L5<=77,"C",IF(L5<=79,"C+",N5)))))))
4. Create: When I had my table copied in my Excel sheet with averages, this is where the worked started. I had to find the 50% of the average of both projects and the 40% of the average of tests and the 10% of the Behavior grade. Then I added this. The result was the final grade. Now came the hardest part. The part of the letter grade transposition from a grade to a letter (A+ through F). I had to use the IF function with the formula abve. Thr function worked by saying "If the cell L5 (say 89%) is greater or equal to 59 the value in cell M5 becomes F." Since this was not true because the value is 89 I had to do the exact same thing but with the CIC scale. But as in every project, there are obstacles. Excel, in the function bar, only allows seven functions or less. And I ceratinly needed more than seven. That is why the equation above ends in 79% because then it would say it is wrong. Before fixing this, I applied the half function to the cells below the one I was unsiong using the "Fill" tool. To fix the problem I had to continue the equation in the right side cell, going from 83 to 100%. After I finished the rest of the equation I selected both sides and put Fill down and the letter grade from the original column suddenly became right. I hid the coulumn in the right and my Interanctive grade book was done.
5. Evaluate: In this project I faced many different problems such as the ones explained above. I think I did a good job since I accomplished the task in time and is high quality. I showed dedication and perseverance in this activity and it is seen in the project.
   In this project I faced problems like:
1. There can only be seven functions in each cell. To solve this I had to continue the function in the adjacent cell and then I had to select both columns and then go to Fill-Down. After this I got all the letter grades automatically and then I pu HIde Column.
2. Another problem is that the averages were not correct and the problem was that I was selecting the worng cells. To solve this I had to correct the equation. I was doing this "=average (L2,L3) there shouldn't have been a space betwen average and the parenthesis. =average(L2,L3).

Even though this project was a pain in the neck, it helped me a lot in Excel and each time I have to do a graph or a table of information I make it Interactive.

As the last project of the year, I really enjoyed it but next time: Karella: Make it easier!

Interactive Crossword Puzzle... The most tedious thing you'll ever do, after the Interactive Grade Book!

Today I finished my Interactive Crossword Puzzle in Excel. An Interacractive Crossword Puzzle is like a crossword but it is electronic. There are cells, just like in a real crossword but when you type the letters according to the clue given, if the letter is right it will go green, if it is wrong, it will turn red. Even though it is cool to have an interactive crossword puzzle, it is hard + it requires a lot of work and pacience. According to the MYP criteria:

• A Investigate: when Karela gave me this assignment I thought it was going to invlove some research because I had no idea how to make an Interactive Crossword Puzzle. I went to Internet Explorer and I looked in Google for "Interactive Crossword with Excel". A webpage came out (http://www.internet4classrooms.com/excel_puzzle.htm) which explained step by step how to make a crossword puzzle. First it said that we had to come up with the words. This is where B Design takes place:
• B Design: this is the part of the project where I come up with ideas. In this case, words. The requirements were 5 words horizontal and 5 words vertical. I came up with these words (ESOL level): Cacti, Dictionary, Nation, Abolish, Machismo, Parasite, English, Variety, Bullet and the hardest one: Magnanimous. Then I had to decide which were horizontal and which were vertical. Then I planned the shape of the crossword and the connections from one word to the other, this is where C Plan takes place:
• C Plan: this is the part of the project where I drew the puzzle with the wors connected. I used the strategy "Trial and Error" to make the words ft in the crossword and still look nice. I looked for letters that were repeated in other words so I could unite the crossword. For example, Abolish was connected to Cacti Cacti and Abolish. When I finished connecting them, it looked like a crossword. What I had to do was to shade the cells that did not have letters in it. This is how I drew the crossword:

Now that I had the crossword, I came up with clues, that would be added to the crossword as comments:

• D Create a Product/Solution: this is the most tedious part of the project. Once I wrote the comments (Right click on cell, "Add comments"), such as "RIGHT-synonym for country" , in the top of the beggining letter of the word I was basically done with the crossword. But the interactive part was missing. I clicked on each cell, when the cell is selected, you go to Format and click on "Conditional Formatting". A window opens and says "between". In that box you look for "equal to", in the box besides it click the letter of the cell selected for example: "E". Then you go to Format and click a color when it is right (blue or green prefferred) After that you click on Add> and a window opens beneath it, go to the box that says "between" look for "not equal to" and put the same letter "E", then go to format and look for red which is for wrong...
  This process has to be done in each cell.
• E Evaluate: this is the part where I evaluate my work. I believe this is a crossword of a level ESOL. Not too Easy but not hard. If people try to solve it they will actually learn some English. Since I used the startegy "Trial and Error" (because I was not sure on how to do it) I had some errors and had to start over; for example, when I started using "Conditional Formatting" I faced errors like: the cells did not change color when the letter typed was wrong, to solve this I re did it and found out that I did not choose any colors. My evaluation is basically this section of the blog. I made a big effort and I hope you enjoy it.

3rd Assignment-"Weird Table"

In class we had to duplicate another table. But it was not a schedule, it was not a grid. It was a "weird" table. Cells were split and merged. Letters were upside down! It was a mess. It took me several hours to duplicate it but I made an exact copy.


I learned a bunch of stuff:

1. How to split and merge cells
2. How to enlarge margins
3. How to write up-side-down
4. How to insert a table inside a table
5. How to make jotnotes inside the table
6. I learned how to make a grid inside a table
7. I learned that I don't like doing it! Just kidding!

2nd Assignment- Bussiness Card

The next assignment was a little funner. We had to create our own business cards. we used Publisher to do it. I made the business card of an Israeli Ambassador. The card was full with flags and Stars of David. I had some problems with letters and flags. When I write on top of a flag it was real hard to see since it had so many things on top. I learned how to choose colors and also learned how to use Publisher since I have only used it a couple of times before.

1st Assignment-Schedule

Karela gave us this schedule, which was quite big. She told us we had to make the same thing in Microsft Word. I was shocked, I thought she used Excel. We all started the computers and started copying the table. I learned how to:

1. Shade cells in a table

I did not learn much, actually, I was surprised; anyway, she was my teacher some years ago and she taught me everything I know about Microsoft.

February 2nd

As always, we started typing with Mavis Beacon. Today I created this blog.