Do you want to know the secret to building complex, advanced Excel formulas? Here it is… 👇
Get inspiration from LEGO.
Confused? Let me demonstrate.
Calculating Student with Highest GPA
Let’s build a formula to calculate the student with best GPA out of a table like this:
Our data is in columns C& D, in the range C6:D45.
- We can easily lookup the name of a student with GPA of say, 3.53, using lookup formulas like XLOOKUP.
- We can also calculate the maximum (best) GPA using the MAX formula.
When you combine the Ideas 1 & 2, just like you combine LEGO, you create a third formula that gets the name of student with highest GPA.
So the final formula would be:
=XLOOKUP(MAX(D6:D45),D6:D45,C6:C45)
And now, you can do the happy dance.
How about second highest GPA Student?
We can extend this idea to get the name of student with second highest GPA. Instead of MAX, we need to use LARGE function. Like this:
=XLOOKUP(LARGE(D6:D45, 2),D6:D45,C6:C45)
In the above formula, LARGE(…, 2) returns the second highest GPA.
You can use the same concept to get third highest or second lowest (use SMALL(…,2)).
The LEGO way of building complex formulas...
Just as there are a few basic building blocks in LEGO (well, nowadays, you can find a weird block shaped like dragon’s eyeball to fit in your harry potter set, but you get my point), we can also construct a complex formula from few basic ingredients.
Keep this construction tips in mind…
- Break down the complex problem to small manageable chunks
- Write down formulas for these chunks
- If you need to repeat some logic, consider using either helper cells, or the new LET() function
- Utilize the power of Excel references (absolute - $A$1, relative A1, mixed - A$1, $A1 and finally structural (table[column]) to write shorter & simpler formulas
- Try newer formulas like FILTER, UNIQUE, SORT, LAMBDA etc. to get results easily
- Take time to learn new techniques - such as spill ranges, LAMBDAs, data type driven formulas
- When you have time, challenge yourself to figure out another formula to solve the problem
5 Examples of how to build complex formulas
If you are curious about this, then definitely watch my video. It shows how to write advanced formulas with Excel. See it below or on my YouTube channel.
Sample Workbook - 5 Complex Formulas
If you would like to practice these formulas, here is the sample workbook.
Share your answers in the comments section.
Want more inspiration? Check out below examples:
There are heaps of advanced formula examples on chandoo.org. Start with below and see how you can twist the same 2×2 block in umpteen ways.
- Formula Forensics – a series of amazing Excel formula trickery
- Multi-condition Lookups – using good old VLOOKUP in creative ways
- 10 Advanced IF formula tricks – the trusty IF can do wonders
- Dynamic Array Formulas – HOT HOT HOT – You must try these.
6 Responses to “A quick personal update”
Thank you for the personal update. It was quite encouraging and a breath of fresh air in my Inbox. Take care and stay safe.
David
Doctors advise:
Virus obstructs lungs with thick mucus that solidifies.
Consume lot hot liquids like tea, soup, and sip of hot liquid every 20 min
Gargle w antiseptic of lemon, vinegar, & hot water daily
It attaches to hair/clothes detergent kills it, when come from st go straight shower
Hang dirty clothes in sunlight/cold overnight or wash immediately.
Wash metal surfaces as it can live on them 9 days
Do not touch hand rails
Do not smoke
Wash hands foaming 20 sec every 20 min
Eat fruit/veg and up zinc levels.
Animals do not spread it
Avoid common flu
Avoid eat/drink cold things
If feel sore throat do above immediate as virus is there 3-4 days before descends into lungs
Would love help with my database mgt in excel.
Thanks for being thoughtful of us.
BTW How do you track your expenses/income in excel? Can you share the worksheet please.
Stay safe you and your family, best wishes.
Thanks for the update and happy to know that you and family are doing good. A 21 day lockdown has now been announced in India (I live around Kolkata) so it's uncertain times ahead. I check up on your wonderful articles often and will do so even more regularly now. Stay safe and God bless.
Hi from Argentina, I follow you for a lot of years now. We here are in a quarantine for 2 or 3 weeks, because the pandemia.
Excel is also my passion and I came here looking for a Num2Words formula, but in spanish. If anyone have it, please let me know.
Best regards.
Pablo Molina
La Rioja - Argentina
I'm glad to have your personal update. I'm from India & following you for so many years. Cheers to have any further personal update.