If Carlsberg did formulas

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” ~ Albert Einstein

On a coach full of inebriated colleagues being dropped off after a Christmas party, I was once asked “What’s your favourite Excel function?” This led to an extended discussion about the merits of the various usual suspects and some more esoteric options, only stopped short by the arrival at my stop. This speaks loudly to the type of conversations I attract (and revel in). In today’s post I champion SUMPRODUCT and how it blossoms beyond its mathematical roots.

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So what?!

“The purpose of computing is insight, not numbers.” ~ Richard Hamming

In the manifestos of most analytical teams and thousands of analyst job specs the words “deliver insight” ring proud. This is surely what we all aspire to do. It’s such a powerful word. Insight. Being insightful. It conjures images of wisdom and intellect beyond the ken of normal man.

But what really is it?

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