Last Friday, we had a fun little Excel challenge – Calculate Maximum Change. More than 170 people commented and shared their solutions to this problem.
And the best part?
The best part is the variety of solutions & thinking displayed by our community. So if you are one of those 170, puff your chest & pat yourself on the back. Go ahead, I will wait.
Today, lets take a look at some of these awesome formulas and understand how they work. Read on and watch the video you below to gain few awesomeness pounds.
First, lets understand the problem
Here is a look at the problem:
We need more information to answer this question.
- Are we talking about positive change, negative change or absolute change?
- Are we talking about % change or value change?
In the original problem, even though I did not mention it, most people assumed that we want absolute change of value (ie the answer is 40, for Product 2).
But in real life, you may want to understand the problem a little more before writing any formulas.
Note: The data is in C3:C8 for last month and D3:D8 for this month.
Solution #1: Using MAX array formula
This is the solution most people got.
The array formula:
=MAX(C3:C8-D3:D8)
press CTRL+Shift+Enter after typing.
How it works?
C3:C8-D3:D8 portion: This gives the result {-20;40;15;21;0;-25} in array form.MAX(…) portion: This simply calculates the maximum value of above array and returns 40 as answer.
Why press CTRL+Shift+Enter (CSE)?
We need to press CTRL+Shift+Enter because MAX() is not capable of handling arrays. If you write MAX({-20;40;15;21;0;-25}) you would get 40, but the same array when calculated by doing math on ranges will not work. To force MAX to treat arrays, we need to press CTRL+Shift+Enter.
Solution #2: Using MAX+ABS array formula
Quite a few people figured out that the formula needs to work even when the change is negative. And that is where this new solution comes handy.
The array formula:
=MAX(ABS(C3:C8-D3:D8))
press CTRL+Shift+Enter after typing.
How it works?
ABS() portion: converts the change values {-20;40;15;21;0;-25} to positive {20;40;15;21;0;25}
Rest of the formula is same as solution #1.
Solution #3: Using INDEX to avoid Ctrl+Shift+Enter
The thing with Ctrl+Shift+Enter is that you have to remember it. If you accidentally press Enter instead of CSE, the formula stops working. One way to avoid this is to route the calculation thru an Excel function that can natively process arrays. This is where INDEX (or SUMPRODUCT etc.) come handy.
The formula:
=MAX(INDEX(C3:C8-D3:D8,0))
or
=MAX(INDEX(ABS(C3:C8-D3:D8),0))
How it works?
Same as Solution #1, except for this formula you do not have to press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. The INDEX will automatically calculate the array and send numbers to MAX. Then MAX feels mighty comfortable dealing with those numbers and spits out the answer as 40.
Learn more:
Solution #4: Using AGGREGATE
AGGREGATE() is a new function introduced in Excel 2010. This too, like INDEX & SUMPRODUCT can process arrays natively (provided you are using one of the aggregates like LARGE). Kyle, one of our commenters shared 2 brilliant solutions that involve AGGREGATE.
The formula:
=AGGREGATE(14,4,(C3:C8)-(D3:D8),1)
How it works?
14, 4 portion: This tells AGGREGATE that you want to calculate LARGE value (14) and you want to consider all cells (4). To understand more about AGGREGATE see the links below.
(C3:C8)-(D3:D8) portion: As seen above, this just gives an array – {-20;40;15;21;0;-25}
1 portion: This tells AGGREGATE that you want 1st largest number.
Learn more:
Solution #5: Using MMULT and AGGREGATE
Now this is what I call a scary formula. It can potentially waste your entire afternoon when you try to understand it first time. But once you get it, you feel awesome. This too is posted by Kyle.
The formula:
=AGGREGATE(14,4,MMULT(C3:D8,{1;-1}),1)
How it works?
Watch the video. Explaining how this works in text is difficult.
Learn more:
I am still trying to understand MMULT(). It can be as complex and deep as string theory (or recipe of making bread at home). Go thru below links to learn more about it. Make sure you put on your helmet, cause it will blow your mind.
More ways to get maximum change + Bonus problem
Watch below video to understand how to solve the maximum change problem and another related problem.
Click here to watch if you can’t see the video above
Download Answer workbook
Click here to download answer workbook and examine the formulas to learn more.
What did you learn from this formula challenge?
I learned how to use AGGREGATE, Array SUMIFS and got a better handle on MMULT.
What about you? What did you learn thru this challenge. Please comment and let us all know.
22 Responses to “Master Excel 2007 Ribbon with this Free Learning Guide”
Thank you, kind sir. Well done with the baby making.
I cannot get signed up for your newsletter. I tied both this email address and churchill2001@hotmail.com. never a response.
I cannot get signed up for your newsletter. I tied both this email address and churchill2001_at_hotmail_dot_com. never a response for either attempt.
@Doug, it shows that your email address is pending verification. Can you check your inbox (and may be spam folder too) for an email from me? The subject will be "Activate Subscription to Get your Free Excel Tips E-book"
[...] PPS: If you are struggling with ribbon, you should check out ribbon learning guide. [...]
Very Useful Info..Keep it up..
@Ajay.. you are welcome 🙂
how do u download microsoft excel for free?
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx
Select Office
Free Trial
[...] Excel 2010 UI looks considerably better and less stressful than 2007. The colors are dull and subtle. The icons don’t call for attention unless you want to do something. The menus / ribbons feel smoother and slicker. [Learn to use Excel Ribbon with this Free e-Book] [...]
I can't open this pdf. I get the error message:
You do not have the required license to open this file.
Please request a license from the creator of the file, and add it using the license manager and they try opening it again.
What gives??
I downloaded the file again and it worked this time. Strange. (First file was 116 KB, second was 1644 KB... ???)
[...] More ribbon goodness | Free e-book to learn Excel Ribbon [...]
Hi Chandoo,
thanks for sharing your Excel 2007 learning experience with us; unfortunately the link to the pdf of the free Excel 2007 learning guide seems broken: my Acrobate Readers flags: "Unkown file type or corrupte data".
Have a nice day
Michael
well done this is great
Can somebody just provide a link the classic TAB exportedUI files for MS Office 2003 for us to use in office 2007/2010?. searching online, everybody just wnats to make a buck online with silly Classic Tab installers which do nothing more than inport exportedUI files for you.
Don't give me a ribbon how to guide, just give me free exportedUI files. I should not have to pay anyone for this, it is free XML, MS should have included this to begin with.
thanks
Dear.
There are a set of debit values and a set ot credit values in a column. I want a vba code by whcich the debit value plus a single / multiple credit value is zero that needs to be marked .
finally i will come to know out of the avaibale debits which cannot be used the with avilable credits either single or multiple values.
If multiple matching sets are available let it take the 1st or the 2nd one its not an issue.
Column A Ref
-1000 A
-5000 B
-8000 C
800 A
100 A
100 A
2000 B
3000 B
13000
15000
hi...
how to make this add-ins and display in ribbon... check this sample : http://www.cprsoft.com/GCDemo01.htm
thank you sir...
Please tell me format painter short cut key In excel ?
Thanks In Advance
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