IntermediateStatistical Functions
Measure the spread, ignoring the extremes
Compare the second-best and second-worst weeks to get a fairer range.
LARGE · SMALL
7 min25 points
LARGE
Returns the nth largest value — the third-best rep, not just the best.
Syntax
LARGE(array, k)
Statistical Functions.
Practise LARGE3 interactive exercises, free, no account needed
A worked example
=LARGE(B2:B6,2)
Returns 118,000
The second-highest sales figure.
Where it goes wrong
It returns the value, not who achieved it. Pair it with INDEX and MATCH to get the name.
What the exercises catch
Each of these is a wrong turn the practice exercises recognise and name. They are the misconceptions, not the answers.
- That is the full spread including both the surge week and the blizzard week — 15,350 — which is exactly the number planning asked you to avoid. You need the second value in from each end.Measure the spread, ignoring the extremes
- That is the third-largest order on its own — 3,100 — not the three of them added together. Each rank has to be pulled out and summed.Total the three biggest orders
- Right answer, but read off the screen. With five reps that is easy; the formula is what makes it work for five hundred, and what keeps it correct next quarter.Name the second-best rep with LARGE and INDEX
Practise LARGE
Knowing what a function does and being able to write it from memory are different skills. These close the gap.
All LARGE practice exercises →
- AdvancedData Analysis
Name the second-best rep with LARGE and INDEX
Combine ranking with a lookup to return a name, not just a number.
LARGE · INDEX · MATCH
14 min40 points - AdvancedStatistical Functions
Total the three biggest orders
Add up the top three values without sorting the data or using a helper column.
LARGE
10 min35 points