Master Key Excel Formulas for Effective Data Analysis

To unlock the full potential of your Excel reports, mastering key formulas like VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and FILTER is essential. Let’s dive into these powerful tools that can elevate your data analysis.

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FILTER (Dynamic Data Extraction)

What does FILTER do?

FILTER extracts only the rows that meet a specific condition.

Example Scenario

You want to display all products priced above $500.

=FILTER(A2:C4, C2:C4>500)

Step-by-Step Guide

1️⃣ Select an empty cell.
2️⃣ Type the above formula and hit Enter.
3️⃣ The result will be:

101 | Laptop | $900 103 | Phone | $700

Why use FILTER?

✅ Results update dynamically as data changes.
✅ Can extract multiple matching rows.
✅ Useful for dashboards and reporting.

Common Mistakes

❌ Using incorrect ranges in the condition (C2:C4>500).
❌ Forgetting that FILTER requires an array result.