Simple steps in excel for Data Analysis

I thought excel was a few classes learning then you are at it, but Alaaas! To my amazement, I keep meeting something new that excel can solve for me.
Let us learn a few but critical functions excel can do for a simple data set.
Always remember to save your work after every update to avoid loosing your work.

What makes up an excel?
The basic parts of an excel are:

1. Rows - the vertical cells
2. Columns - the horizontal cells
3. Cell - intersection of row and a column
4. Sheet bar - displays number of sheets.

Data Types
This ensures that you input your data correctly.

Let us explore these data types:

.Number
.Currency
.Date
.Text
.Time
.Percentage
.Fraction

Excel can used to analyze basic data in following ways;

1. Sorting and Filtering
   You can sort your data in different ways; smallest-biggest, largest-smallest or even customize your filter.

2. Data Cleaning
   . Removing duplicates
   Having repeated data can give wrong computations. So you ensure you remove any duplicates in your data.
   Select your column>Go to Data on the Tool Bar and Select Remove Duplicates, Click Okay

3. Flash Fill.
   It includes several actions like;
   .splitting and combining texts
   For splitting data:
   Select the name column>On the Tool Bar go to Data>Select Text to Columns> Pick Delimitedclick Next and choose space/comma> Finish

4. Formatting data for example to upper case, lower case

to upper case you use this formulae =upper(f2:f10)
to lower case you use this formulae =lower(f2:f10)

Basic data calculations
. Sum - =sum(b2:b5) adds data in that column
. average - =average(b2:b5) finds the average
. min - =min(b2:b5) finds the minimum number
. max - =max(b2:b5) finds the maximum number

Logical functions
. IF/IFS - IF includes one multiple and IFS includes several multiples
. COUNTIF
. SUMIF

Pivot Tables

Used to analyze and summarize large volumes of data.

Select your data , on the Tools Bar, Select Insert, Select Pivot Table.
you will have this window after the steps

After selecting data you can select different calculations you need on the data in the Values area

Visualization
Transforms data into visuals using charts and graphs.
It breaks down complex data into simple easy to understand data.

By the time you are reading this i believe you must have learnt the basics of excel if not all. With continuous interaction with excel you will be able to learn much more. Happy learning and discovery!