Industrial Statistics with Minitab

1.4 Data Operations: An Introduction

When starting to work with Minitab, the easiest way to carry out data calculations is by using the option Calc > Calculator. The following dialog box shows how to create a new variable, named Total, as the sum of the entries in columns C2 to C6. Notice that this new variable is placed in the first empty column found in the worksheet.

To automatically place a column in the box where the cursor is, double-click on its name (in the left variable list) or alternatively click once on its name and then click on the Select button.

Example 1.2:

Consider the data already used in Example 1.1. Suppose that there is a commercial team per each geographical zone. It is decided that 10% of each zone sales amount, collected during the first four months of the year, should be split among the team-members of each zone. Carry out the appropriate operation and store the quantity corresponding to each commercial team in column C8.

To achieve this, use the menu option Calc > Calculator, then introduce C8 in box Store result in variable and finally write 0.1*(C2+C3+C4+C5) in the Expression box.

Another way to carry out operations is through the menus ...