One cell F2 is not enough for history
The lever F2 = 1.2 for “worse spending” you know from scenarios. Scenario manager (Scenarios) saves a whole set of cells — F1, F2, a few spendings — under a name Normal week, Ice cream, Saving. You switch the scenario, the table shows a different result without deleting handmade versions.
The Modeller works with “what if” more professionally than a copy of the sheet.
Scenarios on pocket money
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Sheet
Kapesne. Levers F1 reserve (0.1), F2 spending multiplier (1). Column H ==C2*$F$2(model spending). I10 = total of H or the balance at the end of the week — one result number for the scenario. -
Data → Scenarios → Add. Name:
Normal. Changing cells:F1,F2(and optionally C3 for one day). Values: F1=0.1, F2=1. Watch the result I10. -
Second scenario
Ice cream: F2=1.3, F1=0.1. ThirdSaving: F2=0.7. -
Show scenario Ice cream — I10 jumps. Show Normal — it comes back. The sheet is not overwritten forever, until you save the scenario again.
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Sheets may not have Scenario manager like Excel — then keep a scenario table J1:L4: columns Name, F2, Result with a formula
=SUMA(C2:C8)*L2and so on. You switch F2 by hand according to the row. The idea is the same.
Change a scenario only on input cells (F1, F2), not formulas in H. Result I10 must be a formula, not a hardcoded number — otherwise the scenario does not lie, but it does not calculate either.
A summary report of scenarios
Excel: Data → Scenarios → Summary — a table of all scenarios vs. I10. In Sheets make a Result column by hand for each row J — the same effect.
What often goes wrong
Result cell = a number. The scenario overwrites inputs, the result does not move. I10 = a formula.
Too many changing cells. Start with F2. Then F1, one spending C5.
Forgotten return. After Ice cream put Normal back — otherwise you hand in the wrong week.
🏫 Grade average — a grade scenario
“What if English 3→2?” Cell B4 a scenario or a handmade copy in a scenario table: B4=2 vs 3, watch B8 average. Scenario manager in Excel on one cell B4.
💰 Pocket money — the main playground
Three scenarios F2. I10 balance or SUMA H. Compare in table J — which week do you survive?
📊 Class survey — a hypothesis
“What if 5 votes moved from nothing to apple?” A copy of column E, not scenario manager — a different type of model. Note the share difference.
🏆 Mini dashboard — only normal
The dashboard shows the current truth (F2=1). Leave scenarios on Kapesne in table J — the class does not see all the “what ifs”.
Now you 💪
First: three scenarios F2 (or table J) + result I10.
Second: a summary table: scenario name | F2 | result.
Check: Switching a scenario changes I10. The Normal scenario can be restored. Formulas in H untouched.
What to take from this lesson
- A scenario = a saved set of input cells + a name.
- The result must be a formula. Inputs = levers F1, F2.
- Sheets: a scenario table instead of the manager, the same logic.
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