Logical formulas are helpful when dealing with variables that have only two possible outcomes. For instance, you may want to classify data into two age groups — people younger than 40 and those older than 40. Logical functions make this easy by returning results in the form of 1/0 or TRUE/FALSE values.
Two of the most widely used logical functions in Excel are IF and OR, which you will practice in this section.
So far, you’ve also come across different categories of Excel functions, including:
- Mathematical functions
- Statistical functions
- Text functions
- Logical functions
Along with these, you’ve picked up some time-saving techniques — such as using shortcuts, applying bucketing, working with binary (0/1) values, splitting data with Text to Columns, and eliminating duplicates with Remove Duplicates.
Notice how quickly a skilled analyst can carry out these steps. The speed usually comes from framing a clear business question, applying the right formula, and validating the result with data.
Some of the factors that contribute to faster analysis include:
- Combining multiple formulas in a single step
- Relying on keyboard shortcuts
- Gaining experience by repeating similar tasks
- Exploring different datasets to build familiarity
In the next session, you will hear a few real-life stories and experiences that illustrate these points further.