A spreadsheet program is a software application that produces an accountant s ledger. It allows the computer user to arrange numerical data in rows and columns that intersect to form cells.
Spreadsheets perform mathematical calculations on the data in the cells.
These calculations are determined by formulas placed in the cells by the spreadsheet user. The calculations happen much, much faster than an accountant can do math with a calculator. Spreadsheets are very useful, because in addition to calculating numbers happening in real life, the user can put in other numbers to see potential changes in outcomes. For example, if a businesswoman wants to know what her profit margin would be if she changed the prices of her products, a spreadsheet would show her. It is quite helpful for financial decision making.