---
title: "Spreadsheet PV and FV functions"
course: "FINC 160 · How money and markets work"
unit: "Making money count: value cash over time"
lesson: 7 of 41
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/how-money-and-markets-work/spreadsheet-pv-and-fv-functions
publisher: Maestro College
---

# Spreadsheet PV and FV functions

Lesson 7 of 41 in **How money and markets work** (FINC 160), unit "Making money count: value cash over time". An open lesson from Maestro College.

## What the learner will be able to do
- Use the built-in PV and FV spreadsheet functions with correct arguments and sign conventions (money paid out entered as negative)
- Verify a spreadsheet function result against a hand calculation
- Fix formulas that contain typed-in numbers so that they reference input cells

## Teaching notes
Continues the Venture value model: starting state is Inputs, Cash flows and a Valuation tab with year-by-year present values at 10% (rebuild from the unit defaults if needed). The learner adds a PV() check of the level cash flows next to the hand-built total (about $75,800 with defaults) and pastes both values and formulas into the chat.

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.

## When the lesson is done
The lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed above. Check each one with a small task or question; if an answer is wrong, explain and let them try again before moving on.
When every outcome is covered:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson 7 complete: Spreadsheet PV and FV functions."
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, "Challenge: pricing a payment plan" (lesson 8 of 41), and give the learner its link: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/how-money-and-markets-work/challenge-pricing-a-payment-plan.md. Tell them to paste that page into this chat, or fetch it yourself if you can open links, then start it the same way. Do not start teaching the next lesson's topic until the learner has it.

Previous lesson: Annuities: valuing level payment streams
Next lesson: Challenge: pricing a payment plan