Sampling rows from a table is common for analyzing subsets of large datasets, enabling quicker insights or testing without processing the entire dataset. In Excel, this is difficult because it lacks built-in random sampling functions, requiring complex formulas or manual steps that are time-consuming and error-prone for large tables. In ...

The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is a financial metric used to evaluate the profitability of an investment by calculating the discount rate at which the net present value (NPV) of a series of cash flows equals zero. In finance, IRR helps investors compare the potential returns of different projects, ...

When introducing newcomers to Python in Excel, I typically recommend that they have some basic Python knowledge beforehand. This helps reduce the mental effort required to grasp the Python in Excel environment. However, using Python within Excel also assumes a solid understanding of Excel itself. Like many technological advancements, embedding ...

Many Excel users dismiss statistics as irrelevant, focusing solely on getting the numbers to add up and then moving on, rather than thinking in probabilities and uncertainties. Yet, these numbers often represent moments in time where they’re monitoring for significant changes to alert the business—precisely where statistics shines. ...

Integrating Python into Excel unlocks a wide range of data visualization options, though interactivity with Python-generated plots remains somewhat limited. In Excel, Python plots are essentially static images, lacking features like tooltips or the ability to explore series data. That said, with a bit of creativity, it’s possible to ...

After years of being unable to work with regular expressions, Excel has finally introduced a set of convenient and useful functions for doing so: However, around the same time, regular expressions also became accessible in Excel as a result of its integration with Python: The addition of regex support in ...

PivotTables in Excel are a fast, user-friendly way to summarize data and gain quick insights. However, they’re not formula-driven, which can limit control and flexibility compared to dynamic options like GROUPBY() or PIVOTBY() functions that embed logic directly into your analysis. If you’re counting on Copilot to craft ...