Create a dynamic spreadsheet that not only answers the question of which option is best over a specific time frame, but is also flexible such that changes in the values of variables can be easily made and new solutions provided. The scenario is this:
You own a consulting business and you travel frequently. There are several airport parking options and you'd like to be able to quickly determine for any given trip which option is the least expensive. Overnight parking at the airport is $11 per day; long-term parking near the airport is $9 per day; long-term parking farther from the airport is $7 per day. To get to the airport long-term parking, you must pay a toll of $4 each way and shuttle service to the airport is free. At the distant long-term parking, the shuttle is $20 round trip. Create an interactive spreadsheet that calculates the least expensive parking for trips lasting 2 days, 5 days, and 9 days.
If your spreadsheet is built correctly, you should be able to change any of the values and have it recalculate. For example, how would it change if you got an EZPass and a resident's discount of 25% on the tolls? If you know how to use the VLOOKUP and/or the HLOOKUP functions in Excel, you can even create a cell that results in the type of parking that is least expensive. (Hint: use the MIN function to determine the least expensive option).