#how to calculate percentage in excel

[lieutenantselnia]

thanks for the tag @kyuoki! <3

I feel the need to explain that I'm the kind of person who rarely ever listens to music per album (unless maybe when a new one has just released), usually it's either "complete discography playlist" or "one to three particular songs on constant repeat", there's no in-between😂 That's why I also have a hard time deciding on a favourite album, because I tend to have some songs I really enjoy as well as some songs that don't interest me as much in almost all of them. But I think these are some that I especially like :)

No tags this time (partly bc I just straight up forgot them when clicking on "post"💀 and I'm not sure if the tagged people would be notified if I add them in later), but feel free to continue :)

[rottenpumpkin13]

out of ASGZC who's the best at math?

They're all good at math, just different kinds.

Cloud: He fumbles with written equations like division and multiplication, but can effortlessly solve complex calculations in his head— division, multiplication, even advanced problems quickly and accurately. This terrifies Zack who discovered that Cloud's like a human calculator when Cloud casually informed Zack that he uses about 25 milliliters of hair gel day, and that the bottle in his hand would last six days, 12 hours, and 27 minutes.

Sephiroth: Had a rigorous, unyielding education under Hojo's watch that now makes him apt at solving calculus, differential equations, advanced physics formulas, you name it. His mind is trained to dissect and solve problems. Sometimes he even solves a few physics problems to decompress like they're no big deal.

Genesis: A genius when it comes to chemical equations, breaking down molecular structures and understanding elements. He can look at a compound and immediately tell you its composition and properties, but this makes him a harsh critic when it comes to the chemical components of cosmetics.

Angeal: Angeal is great at everyday calculations like figuring out discounts, taxes, and percentages—skills that come in handy when buying groceries, planning and budgeting. He can quickly tally up a bill in his head and calculate the final price after a sale.

Zack: He's excellent at what Angeal has lovingly dubbed "Zack Math." He buys an expensive game console for X amount of gil, and when Cloud points out how much it costs, Zack reasons that "If you play it every day, it's really only costing you a few gil per hour. I mean, when you break it down, that's basically free!"

Zack is broke.

[starpains]

A deep dive into AO3 stats

I was feeling a bit bored today, so I decided to create something awesome for myself!

Some of you might already know that I work in data analytics, and I’m not sure if everyone realizes this, but you can actually connect MS Excel Power Query to AO3 to sync your stats and perform in-depth analysis—far beyond what AO3’s built-in stats offer.

My stats aren’t exactly impressive since I only joined the fandom six months ago, but here’s a glimpse of the kind of insights you can generate with this setup:

I analyzed reader engagement with my fics by calculating the percentage of people who comment, leave kudos, or bookmark each fic relative to the total number of hits it received. This gave me three measures of engagement: Comment Threads per Hit (CTpH), Kudos per Hit (KpH), and Bookmarks per Hit (BpH).

To avoid skewed results caused by differences in scale across these measures, I standardized them. I did this by dividing each value by the maximum value in its column, which normalized the data and made the metrics comparable. These standardized values were then combined to calculate an Average Engagement per Hit (AVGpH) for each fic. This single metric allowed me to rank my fics from best to worst based on overall engagement per reader.

Here’s the surprising part: my best-performing fic in terms of engagement isn’t my most kudosed one (ranked 4th), nor is it the most commented (ranked 2nd), or the most bookmarked (ranked 8th). This highlights that pure volume of kudos, comments, or bookmarks doesn’t always reflect the quality of reader engagement relative to the fic’s visibility (hits). Instead, it’s the balance across all three engagement types that determines which fic truly resonates most with readers.

I also analyzed my stats per word to see how the length of my fics influences engagement. While it’s still early to draw definitive conclusions—especially since my longest fic is still a work in progress (I’ll definitely revisit the stats once it’s finished!)—there are already some interesting patterns emerging.

By breaking things down into metrics like Comments per Word (CTpW), Kudos per Word (KpW), Bookmarks per Word (BpW), and Hits per Word (HpW), I could compare how readers interact with fics of different lengths. I combined these into an Average Engagement per Word (AVGpW) to rank my fics by their engagement efficiency.

Key Takeaways

Shorter fics tend to have higher engagement per word. Some of the shorter fics perform exceptionally well, with high Hits per Word and strong kudos and bookmarks per word. On the other hand, longer works show diluted engagement per word, likely because their length makes them a bigger commitment for readers.

Balanced fics perform the best overall. Fics with solid kudos, bookmarks, and hits per word are ranked as the most engaging across the board.

Length affects engagement differently. Shorter or mid-length fics often generate more impact per word, likely because they’re easier for readers to consume quickly. Longer works, while attracting more total engagement, tend to have lower per-word metrics, likely due to their scale.

My top-ranked fic in terms of engagement per word is, interestingly, the one with the most kudos. However, it also has the fewest comments! It’s ranked 7th for bookmarks and has the lowest number of hits among all my fics.

I’m curious to see how these trends shift once my longest fic is complete—it’s a factor that could change these results significantly. For now, though, this analysis highlights how length can influence the way readers engage with your work!

[kiragecko]

Help Choosing Online Spreadsheet Software?

I use spreadsheet software a lot, and sometimes I like to share the stuff I create. Which means using online software. I dislike Google Sheets for more than just being a Google product (copying data back and forth with other programs changes the formatting, they changed the search AGAIN so I don't currently know how to do it, etc).

Any advice about open source alternatives?

I'm leery of Open Office descendants because I STILL have Open Office documents from 2004 that I can't open in any program. But if people have good things to say about LibreOffice Calc (Online) I'm willing to try it out.

Collabora Online is the one I keep seeing in my research.

There's also Sheetster, OnlyOffice, Calligra Sheets, and many others.

I'm mostly making text databases, so ability to format and play with text is my priority.

I'd LOVE a program that let me transform the first character of cells (Excel will not let me add accents unless I type a dummy character before the one I'm going to transform.)

Searching and sorting need to work (I HATE YOU Google Sheets!)

I need to be able to link to it from here, people need to be able to see the file without creating an account, and it would also be nice if I could choose whether or not other people could edit it

Keeping text size, colour, and font when I copy/paste to or from Excel would be nice

For math, calculating percentages and averages would be nice. Mostly I'm just adding lists of numbers, but I've discovered that good percentage functions aren't a given

[electronicwitchcollection]

🖤🌸holy shit it had been a long time- I TOOK A BREAK FROM TUMBLR BUT IM BACK NOW WITH MORE BRAINROT. I wanted to ask u. What do you think of Gin being a lightweight? And Shunsui and Jushiro drinking with him, shocked ? 😂

Hello my friend! I’m glad you’re back!

As always you bring such fun topics to talk about 🖤

So I absolutely believe Gin cannot handle his alcohol, for a few reasons!

The first being, he never got the typical childhood. He went to the academy as a young boy, and excelled through it quickly. He never had any of those teenage parties where they experimented with alcohol and their limits. He didn’t go through school with peers his own age, therefore didn’t have any “friends” his age to go through those experiences with when he reached that age. He never grew a tolerance for it, and never learned his limits.

The people he spent the most time with while transitioning to a child to an adult would’ve been Aizen and Tousen. Both of which aren’t big drinkers themselves. Aizen would maybe indulge in an expensive glass of wine with dinner every so often, but that is all. Tousen I can’t see Finding any enjoyment in drinking, and chooses to abstain.

I would also like to factor in Gin’s physique. He’s so skinny, I’m convinced he hasn’t seen a good hot meal for quite some time. And we all Know the downfall of drinking on an empty stomach 🙃

The biggest and most important factor, is Gin had chosen from an early age that he would be the one to bring Aizen down, working as a secret double agent to ensure Aizen fails in his quest to ascend the heavens. Gin is smart and calculated, he knows full well that “loose lips sinks ships” and would take precautions to ensure Aizen never finds out about his plan to take him down.

He can’t afford to have his inhibitions lowered, must always keep up the facade to ensure he reaches his goals.

However

He was woefully unprepared for how persistent Kyoraku is 😂

We all know just how desperate that man is to have a drinking buddy who can keep up with him. Sure, he has Jushiro who will happily keep him company as he slowly drinks himself to the edge of sanity.. but it can get tiring being the only one drinking while your friend smiles on patiently. Not to mention the times Jushiro is too unwell or simply to busy to join him.

I think he has had a good few drinking partners over the years… Yourichi, Shinji, Isshin. Unfortunately they’ve all left him to drink alone once more. Kenpachi is good in a pinch, the man can hold his liquor ! but trying to get any decent conversation out of him… you’d have better luck trying to get water not to be wet. 😂

I believe Kyoraku would corner Gin one day, and before he knew what was happening he was sat opposite the two older captains wondering how the hell this happened. Without thinking of any believable reason why he had to go, Gin would try and wait Kyoraku out. The man had a reputation. Surly he’d be slumped over falling asleep soon, where he could easily leave him to the practiced hands of Jushiro, who had more patience than any one man should.

He failed to recognise two things. The first being, Kyoraku can drink an obscure amount of alcohol before he got into that state. The second being Gins near non existent tolerance would be no match for the high percentage alcohol Kyoraku favoured.

The first drink went down fine, a little fuzzy around the edges, but manageable. He could still walk home perfectly capable of hiding his true intentions. He could engage in conversation while keeping all of his secrets deeply guarded.

The second was a little more worrisome. His real laugh came out unexpectedly at one of Kyorakus filthy jokes. Muscles relaxed and the room suddenly feeling a little bit warm. But he was fine, right? A little tipsy, but still in somewhat control of his actions. The room tilted if he moved to fast and he couldn’t quite get the smile off his face

It’s the third that tips him over. His normally pale complexion is flushed red, one eye is tightly closed while the other tries to focus hard enough to stop the world from spinning around him. His words are slurred and heavy, sounding fine to his own ears yet almost indistinguishable to everyone else. When the hiccups start, so did the giggling.

Kyoraku and Ukitake would share a disbelieving look at the absolute state this man had gotten in after only three drinks… even Ukitake could handle more than that..

Kyoraku would pout at the disappointing loss of yet another drinking buddy prospect. Though he did quite enjoy watching Gin sway and stumble his way into nearly every wall, tree and person they passed on the way to his home as Ukitake frantically tried to steer him in the right way.

[hillerskalibrary]

Event poll results!

(summary version)

So last week I opened a poll to check what kind of YR fandom events you guys wanted to see and the respondents were... how shall I put it... "very excited" is most applicable I think? ;)

Because I'm a nerd who likes to analyze the results but also doesn't want to chase her entire following away, I'm going to make two result posts:

This post, where I will summarize the results as succint as I can, and address some of the remarks and suggestions that I received. I'll also make a conclusion on what I would suggest to do - feedback on that is certainly welcome!

A second post (which I'll link when I finish it, most likely tomorrow or even after cause I'm slow as fuck) with some more graphs, percentages, observations, cause I don't know shit about statistics but that won't stop me from having fun with it!

Fair warning - it's pretty long. I just find it easier to explain a little about the decisions I'm (not) taking, both to invite discussion and because I don't want this to be a black box blog that does whatever and you never know why. That being said...

Ready? Let's go!

RESULTS

I received 72 responses, 36 writers and 36 readers.

The top 3 most wanted events by READERS is: Big Bang (89%), Theme Week (86%), and Weekly Challenges (83%). The event they were least excited about is Author Interviews (56%).

The top 3 events writers most want to PARTICIPATE in is, in order: Author Interviews (69%), Theme Week (64%), and Fic Exchange (61%). The events they DO NOT want to participate in are Author Interviews (25%), very closely followed by Big Bang and Advent (both 22%).

READERS were (very) slightly more excited about a Wilmon theme week rather than a general YR week. WRITERS clearly preferred a general YR week. For both groups, a YR women week comes in third, and rarepair week is fourth.

All types of weekly writing challenges suggested scored similarly.

(I know some of these seem contradictory, which I why I'll make the second post explaining how I calculated these rankings and why -for example- Author Interviews are both the most AND the least popular event for writers ;) )

SUGGESTIONS

A lot of people wrote in suggestions, which I was SUPER happy about (I closed the form now but if you have any more, please just hit my inbox or DM me at @hilliska). A few people also offered to help, which I'm definitely gonna hold you to when decisions are starting to get made! ;)

Many people were excited about possible collabs between writers and artists.

"What about a "finish your draft/wip" or "write a new chapter on a wip". I have so many languishing WIPs…" I think this is an EXCELLENT idea tbh - though we could incorporate it in the big bang by allowing wips as well. Also, as an FYI, there is also a (non-fandom-specific) Finish Your Shit-Big Bang that takes place every year (though this year's round is close to posting already) ;).

"I’d also love to see more Podfic in this fandom, but I don’t know how that could be an event." I have zero experience with podfic but this does sound (ha!) like it could be fun. Maybe someone has experience with this from a different fandom? (honestly I'd love to experiment with this so hmu)

"Authors sign up to take one shot requests or readers get to write a prompt. Or if readers could submit or vote on prompts or something? Or readers submit a song and author writes a one shot based on a song. Something like that where readers can be involved too :)" We could also easily incoporate this in a big bang - do a prompt bang or a reverse bang (fic based on art) for example? Or maybe involve readers in the weekly challenges, by suggesting tropes/words/... ?

"Write a comment on a fic-week!" Yessss!!!! I am like... 95% sure there is a tumblr-wide event for this already but I can't for the life of me find it. So I could signal boost that or yeah, we could just pin a day ourselves :).

"Group chat/watch" I'm afraid I'm not the right person to organize this kind of thing, but if you've been thinking of doing this and you were afraid no one would be interested - this is your sign!! ;)

"live writing event" Same as above - though I do think there's some discords where this happens already?

"Some sort of collab, where authors get to write a fic together." This could definitely be fun! There is currently one that originated on Twitter called Unlabeled - I don't know all the writers but I recognize at least @yourdemiurge, @skydragon05, @1-life-to-give, and @in-amor-veritas. Which obviously doesn't help if you're a writer wanting to collab, but at least there's people with experience in this fandom ;).

"Maybe a poetry week?" I don't even write poetry but I'm obsessed with this suggestion. Could also be a writing challenge? Not sure about a whole week either, but there's World Poetry Day in March so maybe that can be a mini-event?

"Something not fic centered? Like fanart, edits, cosplay etc." This is one of those things that I'm throwing out there for other people to run with, maybe, because. Well, I'm a writer and I know fic, but I really don't know much about the rest... Which is not to say I don't want to (help) run anything like this because it definitely could be fun, but it's a little out of my wheelhouse. But maybe @youngroyalsfanartarchive can help or knows people who would?

And now what??

Consider the below not as a definitive list but as a stream-of-consciousness conversation starters, so don't hesitate to send me your thoughts.

I will definitely do a Big Bang. Prompt-based or art-based or wip-based or something else remains to be decided, but this will happen. It will not happen NOW, however, because we don't know when season 3 will air. Big Bangs are big events, they ask a lot from writers, and if the s3 premiers at any time between signups and publications, it's going to make everything more difficult. But there was sufficient interest by writers to participate, so once we got a s3 date I want to put a timeline on this.

I'm talking with people about a possible YR women's week. The general/Wilmon week scored higher in the polls, but since we already had that in spring I'd like to switch it up a little.

I would like to do *something* for the anniversary of s2. Don't want to go regular theme week for this because of the above possibility, but maybe the not-fic-centered event could be good for this - we could do favorite episode/favorite non-wilmon character/... which are things that non-content-creators can also participate in by writing a short paragraph, reblogging gifsets/art of that episode/character, ... "Finish your wip" would also be a good one for this though :)

The people behind the 2023 Secret Santa will not organize one this year, but I don't really want to jump in that, necessarily, because there's enough other possibilities and they might be back. But a Valentine fic exchange could maybe work?

The advent calendar idea drew mixed reactions (maybe because it's less well known?) and while I do think it could be fun, there's enough other things that people are excited about, so I'm putting it in the freezer for now.

The weekly challenges also drew mixed reactions - both readers and writers were excited to see them happen, but only a third of writers said they would definitely/probably participate. Then again, half of them said they would POSSIBLY participate. Maybe because it's an ongoing thing, so they don't want to promise they'd participate EACH WEEK but only sometimes? So I'm not sure about this (also because it would significantly up the time required to maintain the blog). So I'd love more feedback on this to see which shape or form you guys would like this to take.

Fic recs scored solidly in the middle of the possibilities for both reader and writers. I wanted to include it because I was curious, but I'm a little hesitant to really do something with it, mostly because it often ends up being a popularity contest and. Well. We already know how to sort by kudos/comments on AO3. So I'm curious to hear other people's experiences on how to maybe circumvent that.

The Author Interviews were the most contested event - even (or rather *especially* among writers (and I secretly think it's hilarious the most wanted event by writers is the one that doesn't require them to write at all :D). I do think it could be fun (though I admit this is a format mostly geared towards writers) to help other writers to find other people to collaborate with, find betas, learn about different writing processes, ... And a self-rec feature would allow for fic recs without the popularity factor. So I'll most likely run this as a (bi-)weekly feature alongside the other events.

[theartkid15]

Applying my forensics science knowledge to Maroon and Tre bc I chose to do this class now I’m making it everyone else’s problem.

🧡🌱🥃🕶️. 🧥☕️📝🔍

( TW: mentions of blood, decomposition, firearms, and me being a nerd)

Just a statement, this is a high school level class, I want to go into forensics one day, but I’m not an expert, I don’t know everything. I just think this is really cool.

Tre- when shown his first murder crime scene, he wasn’t even physically there he was just viewing the documents and photos. He literally fainted at the first image of blood. He his a weak stomach and couldn’t handle blood at all.

So building off of that, during training, I would imagine you would have to have at least some knowledge about forensics for cop or detective work. So learning the blood spatter unit for Tre was a nightmare and torture, he barely passed the final summative test for the unit. He still couldn’t tell you that difference between a cast off spatter and a transfer stain.

Same thing with decomposition. He couldn’t handle it, which is so ironic for someone who wants to be a cop/detective so badly. Tre couldn’t even make it through a simulation lab of taking samples or analyzing said samples.

On the bright side, he excelled in the finger print unit as well as DNA collection and analysis. The fingerprint identification was interesting because many follow the same pattern of whorls, loops, or arches, fingerprints are still unique to everyone. Being individualized by bifurcations, ridge endings, dots, hooks, enclosures, and more.

He had a blast taking his own finger prints and identifying what made his unique. As well as developing a fingerprint, I promise it’s just like those kid detective kits.

Maroon- so since she’s a bodyguard she has to have some police background maybe. I dunno, this is ZeddyZi’s world I’m just living in it. Anyway, field sobriety tests were always her favorite because it was funny to see people try and fail to do it correctly.

One leg stand is easily the funniest because people must of the time fall face first.

Can she do all the calculations for forensics like refractive index, medullary index, origin of impact for blood spatter, and almost every other formula for DNA and probability? Yes, yes she can, but her favorite and her kinda party trick is calculating BAC ( blood alcohol content/ concentration). Essentially calculating how much a person is over or under the legal limit. Aka, how drunk you are. So all she needs is the persons weight, gender, percentage of alcohol which a beverage and BOOM you have ur answer if you are sober enough to go home by yourself if it wasn’t obvious enough.

So I’ve yapped about it before about Maroon and being handy with weapons ( mainly guns) and all that. She prefers a revolver over a pistol. Mainly bc a pistol is much more temperamental in the sense that the firearm has so many moving parts that it’s prone to misfire or jam. Probably prefers a double motion ( the hammer is already cocked, she doesn’t like wasting any valuable seconds while on the field) as well as a quick load revolver since she doesn’t have to load bullets in one at a time. Plus revolvers have more accuracy compared to pistols.

Bc if I remember correctly, since the bullets are directly loaded into the revolver, it’s a more accurate shot. The downside to revolvers, many don’t have a safety lock to prevent people from accidentally pulling the trigger. She is constantly paranoid about accidentally hurting someone because of it.

She is a VICTIM of the kickback of any handgun, rip her wrists. If she had it her way she would carry around a rifle instead because of the reduced kickback/ recoil, since weight is more evenly distributed. But the rifle is so bulky and harder to conceal so the handgun it is.

Anyway, that’s it. For neow 😼. This is probably one of my more boring posts and a major yap fest. But I find this really interesting and cool. If I got any of my facts mixed up feel free to correct me . I just love the silly cop detective duo so much

- 🪻💫⭐️🌞🌙✨☀️🪐🔮

[mitamicah]

Hi guys and gals and nonbinary cuties 🤗

I had a wild thought: Why not try to take some commissions 👀👀?

It is a sort of experiment since I have no idea how big the interest is on tumblr next to my other social platforms (mostly deviantart) 😅. Yet I wanted to give you the possibility to commission me if it turns out that some of you are interested 💛💚💗.

More examples

You will find terms and conditions plus how to proceed with sending me a commission offer below the line:

Terms and Conditions

1 General Information

At this time, I will be taking digital art commissions only.

Standard canvas size: 1200x1600 px, 300 dpi.

It is possible to ask for a bigger or smaller canvas - the price will be raised for a bigger canvas and lowered slightly for a smaller one.

I have a limit of up to 5 characters per canvas. Doodles are excluded (there the limit is 15 doodles per canvas). To check out the price for a drawing with more than one character you can click on this excel ark (under commissions by Nov 2021).

Are you interested in a style not featured feel free to ask me and I can give you an offer.

2 Ownership

As the artist I own the final product: Please credit me if you post it (with permission) and do not delete the signature.

The art must not be used commercially.

3 Drawing limits

Things I will draw;

OCs; Shipart (within reason); Humans/humanoids; Animals of the canine, feline or equine families (cats, dogs and horses); Dragons; Anthropomorphic characters (to an extend); Children (to an extend); Elderly characters (to an extend); Fanart (more later); Armour (to an extend)

Things you have to ask me about;

SFW nudity; Muscular men or women; Big-busted women; (Mild) Gore; Monsters with undefined features; Birds, big fish and other less often drawn animals (eg. goats, rhinos, elephants, bears etc.)

Thing I won’t draw

NSFW nudity and scenes; Hateful art (lgbt-phobia, racistic, ableism etc.); Fetish art; Super detailed backgrounds

Specifically about fanart

I will gladly draw fanart of properties (movies, franchises, books etc.) that I know of and may also be persuaded to try fanart for stuff that I don’t know.

Please keep in mind that no matter what I will draw it in my style; I won’t replicate the style from a specific show/manga/book etc.

4 Work in Progress updates

I'll send work in progress (WIP) pieces when I am done sketching. Exceptions will happen when:

The owned art is a sketch drawing.

You communicate that you are not interested in wips

5 Payment options

At this time, Payment will happen through paypal only.

I will send you an invoice using the PayPal address you've stated in the commission form (more later).

The invoice will be in Danish Kroner, DKR.

Please do NOT send any money before I've accepted your commission.

Please pay within 3 days of getting the invoice - if this is not possible send me a dm/mail.  

Have I not recieved the payment within the 3 days' deadline, the deal is off.

It is not possible to split the payment. (aka paying half now and the other half later)

6 Refunds

As a commissioner you can get refunds before I send the first wip and/or if I do not update you within 14 days.

updating include the following;

sending you notes about the progress.

showing you wips of the progress.

being tagged in posts about possible setbacks.

If you decide to cancel your commission following the description above, you get 75% of your money back (little fee of asking for a refund).  

If you want refunds for any other reason than stated above, the same rules still apply IF you ask before the first wip has been sent.

If you ask for refunds AFTER the first wip the percentage will be calculated depending on how far I've gotten in the drawing process.

7 How to order

If want to commission me, please either DM me or send me a mail at thebadgerfoxdraws@gmail.com

What I want you to do is:

Fill in this form:

Username:

Offer: (eg. sketch bust)

Character(s): the name(s) and pronouns of your character/person(s) you want me to draw (to make sure I don’t misgender any character/person I may not know).

Reference(s): reference picture(s) of each character/person – (I prefer fullbodies for original characters). Please choose reference pictures in a good quality.

Background: (if you are not interested in a background or are indifferent, please tell me so as well).

Paypal adresss: (e-mail that I may send the paypal invoice to).

Other: some other details worth knowing - do you have a pose or expression in mind? do you not want wips? Etc.

Fill in this agreement:

I, (insert your username), have read and understood the terms and conditions set by MarcooftheMoon. I accept that if I should break these rules, the offer will be declined and all owned art will be cancelled. I have hereby signed this agreement.

[middle-earth-mythopoeia]

12, 19, 22, 23

Thanks for the ask! :) Someone else asked me 12, 19 and 22 as well, so this is for both of you.

The unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them:

Emeldir! It’s not that she’s unpopular, exactly. She’s just a female character in the Silmarillion, and she doesn’t appear very often at that, so all of this gets her thoroughly ignored. But I think she’s fascinating and I wish more people talked about her. (Goodness knows fans devote plenty of time and attention to male characters more obscure than she is.) I wrote a longer post about her here. There needs to be more about Emeldir!

Speaking of obscure characters—not unpopular per se, just obscure—I feel like people should pay WAY more attention to Miaulë. We need to talk about Miaulë. I love him. I’m obsessed with him. I will not rest until the whole world loves him as much as I do. I have a similar soft spot for Tevildo, and I’ve even tried justifying his inclusion in the later mythology. Which goes double for Miaulë. All hail Miaulë!

You’re mad/ashamed/horrified you actually kind of like...

I don’t really feel shame—I just enjoy things! But horrified? That’s different! Once I stayed up until literally 4am deciphering a manuscript from the LOTR movies written in the mode of Beleriand (but in English, it’s not like I actually know Elvish). Keep in mind that I didn’t read the mode of Beleriand at the time—I’m way more comfortable with the Sindarin mode and I’m alright with the Quenya mode—and I was like, “Oh, this page is in the mode of Beleriand! Well, that won’t stop me!” And I chose the middle of the night to do this?! Anyway, AFTER all that, I found a link to the transcription. But it was a fun challenge.

AND THEN I decided to read this other manuscript in the mode of Beleriand, Thorin’s letter to Bilbo (this one was written by Tolkien himself). It was even harder, because not only is it in tengwar, not only is it in the mode of Beleriand, the handwriting is also very difficult in parts AND the spelling is weird. I had so much fun. And then I was like, “What the fuck is wrong with me?” (Note: I didn’t read it with a copy of the letter in English to refer to. Oh, no. That would have been too sane.)

This was in 2020. I’ve only gotten worse since then.

Another time someone asked me, “There seem to be a lot of twins in Tolkien’s books—are there more twins in Middle-earth than in the modern world?” And then I, myself a twin, determined to answer this question definitively, made an Excel spreadsheet of all named Tolkien characters and what percentage of them are twins, and I found that the number of twins in Tolkien is about the same as we have now, or lower, depending on which characters you count. But it’s not higher! So now we know.

Another time I saw a post saying, “But are we SURE that all of Tolkien’s male Elves had long hair?” So I opened my PDF of LOTR and did a word search for “hair” and looked at all the examples. And then I opened my PDF of the entirety of HOME and did another word search for “hair” (there were over 400 mentions) and also “locks” and other synonyms, and then I looked at EVERY SINGLE ITERATION in order to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Tolkien’s male Elves have long hair. Because I’m insane, but I’m also right.

Another time I spent literally hours trying to calculate how long it would have taken Fingon to reach Angband on foot when he set out to rescue Maedhros, depending on how far he travelled each day, etc. We’re talking actual math here. Measuring distances on the map of Beleriand. Entering different variables. I was very dedicated.

Am I normal? No. Do I feel shame? Also no. Do I sometimes horrify myself nonetheless? Yes I do.

Your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores:

I love this question. It’s hard to answer because I have so many favorite parts of canon that most people ignore. (Like the entirety of the Lays of Beleriand.) Admittedly, whether this is part of canon is debatable because it’s from the Book of Lost Tales, but I absolutely love this part. For context, Ælfwine and his companions had been looking for Valinor for years and had almost given up hope of ever finding it, and then this happens:

Then none spoke for wonder and amaze, seeing deep in the gloaming of the West a blue shadow, and in the blue shadow many glittering lights, and ever more and more of them came twinkling out, until ten thousand points of flickering radiance were splintered far away as if a dust of the jewels self-luminous that Fëanor made were scattered on the lap of the Ocean… Then came there music very gently over the waters and it was laden with unimagined longing, that Ælfwine and his comrades leant upon their oars and wept softly each for his heart’s half-remembered hurts, and memory of fair things long lost, and each for the thirst that is in every child of Men for the flawless loveliness they seek and do not find. 

It is IMPOSSIBLE for me to read this without getting chills, or without it bringing tears to my eyes. The blue shadows? The lights? The music? The flawless loveliness they seek and do not find? Tolkien captures such a bittersweet feeling in this passage that it’s actually excruciating, because we can’t go there. What happens next is that Ælfwine leaps from the ship and goes to Valinor, and his comrades never see him again. The reader, like Ælfwine‘s companions, is left behind—allowed to see the Undying Lands for just a moment, but never able to go there. The feeling I get from this is very similar to the feeling I get at the end of LOTR, when we catch a glimpse of Valinor through Frodo’s eyes—but that’s it. And even though it makes me sad, I love it so much and I wouldn’t wish that it be written any other way.

A ship you’ve unwillingly come around to:

Alcarondas. I don’t like the fact that Ar-Pharazôn tried to make war on Valinor, obviously, but the ship itself was pretty cool. (Sorry for answering this in such a chaotic way, but I couldn’t resist!)

[cbk1000]

I'm really a bit ehhhhh about this new compensation system.

So, under my old company, everyone got the same cost of living raise across the board, and then your bonus was merit-based. It was a measly raise; I think it was usually about 1%, so under this new system, even though we don't get bonuses, it will actually be more money overall...if you score high enough to merit a raise.

The issue is, there are brackets of 0%, 2.5%, and 3%. The absolute highest raise you can get is 3%. I calculated that out, and that is $140 extra a month for me. And that's calculated on my gross pay, so that would not be what I actually take home. Let's say maybe $100 extra a month, after taxes and benefits and all that. If someone threw $100 at me, I would not turn it down, but that is not very much money. An extra $50 a paycheck is barely noticeable, tbh, unless you are REALLY hard up, but it's still not going to go very far. My boss said that at a leadership meeting she attended, there was a lot of emphasis on how important these evaluations are and how this company has VERY high standards and the grades really need to be earned. So, is this like a situation where basically nobody gets that 3% because their standards are impossibly high? I've been evaluated under three different managers under the old system and always scored in the highest possible bracket. Under the old system, a manager did have to justify in their comments why they had scored someone really high or low, so it's not that different, but the emphasis on their standards and the wording of the merit breakdown just kind of really sounds like, "You better dance REALLY hard for that extra hundred bucks, monkey."

The other thing is, in the 0% bracket, the descriptions breaking down what puts you in that cover three different types of employees: employees with 'role model behaviors' who exemplify the values of the company, are 'team players', adapt well to change, etc. etc., but have inconsistent results and struggle with their workload. Then you have the employee who is extremely technically proficient and good at their job, but has 'inconsistent behaviors', which I take some issue with, especially if we're being graded on how much 'joy' we do our jobs with. The description for this category lists things like 'inconsistently demonstrates value-based behaviors', 'operates independent of the team or organization' and 'does not use a "systems" view', which isn't clarified, so I don't know what the criteria is for this. And then the third category is someone who is a very poor performer with a poor attitude. So basically, if you get excellent result, but your attitude is deemed poor, you get no raise. If you are a role model of good behavior but struggle with your workload, you get no raise.

Then for a 2% raise, you have to have solid behaviors and solid results; for a 2.5%, role model behavior with solid results, or role model results with solid behavior; the 3% is 'exceptional' and covers someone who has role-model behavior and exceptional results.

I'm not personally worried about getting screwed out of a raise, but a lot of this language is too broad in my opinion when it determines whether you get any raise at all, let alone the percentage. At least under the old system you knew you would get a raise, even if it was a small one, and the extra bonus was based on a similar system.

I dunno. I guess we shall see how this plays out.

[disgruntled-detectives]

I’m gonna gush for a moment. Bear with me.

So I have struggled with math my entire life. I was in remedial math and extra math lessons all throughout schooling. My highest grade was a c- in my Jr year of high school because I stayed after school EVERY SINGLE DAY for extra help. I had to put in triple the effort to barely pass. I would WEEP over my math homework because I understood it in school, two hours later, it’d be completely vanished from my head when I would sit down to do my homework.

I never made it past algebra 1.

I didn’t know this wasn’t normal.

I didn’t know it wasn’t normal to have to use my fingers to add, count and do basic arithmetic past a certain age.

I didn’t know it wasn’t normal to forget concepts in a matter of an hour after learning it.

I didn’t know it wasn’t normal to never be able to estimate time, or distance.

I didn’t know it wasn’t normal to not be able to read large numbers.

Etc etc etc

I was routinely made to feel stupid. Like I was just being lazy and not trying. Because I was excelling and in honors classes for my other subjects. So obviously, according to my parents and teachers, I just wasn’t trying hard enough.

I was an adult before I learned what dyscalculia is.

I didn’t know I had a legitimate learning disability til I was an adult and I was never stupid.

Yet I still, at the thought of doing math for any reason, I get anxiety and feel stupid.

Enter my husband.

My husband never once made me feel dumb. For anything.

I was in awe of him being able to calculate the 20% tip when going to dinner in his head, and instead of laughing at me, he taught me how. (Round up the total to the nearest five, double it and take off the final zero. So if the bill is 87 dollars, round up to 90, double it to 180 and knock off the final zero. So 18)

And doing this correctly took me MANY tries. I’d forget what to do again and again. And now whenever we go out, I calculate the tip and if I get it right, we gives me a warm smile. If I get it wrong, he patiently tells me to try again.

(This is because I want to learn to work with my math anxiety. And on the whole, I’m actually interested in math! I just need someone to gently explain it a lot. He’s not asking me to do it)

Over the years, usually in bed at night, I’ve asked him a ton of math questions.

How to multiply a fraction

How to figure out a percentage

Why that tip calculation works

How to convert a percentage into a fraction and vice versa

How to figure out the diameter of a circle

What a hypotenuse is

And he patiently answers me every single time.

He’s never made me feel dumb.

When he has to explain a concept multiple times, he’s always just as patient as he was the first time.

He’s never said “you should know this” or “why don’t you remember this?”

And when I cry because I feel dumb, because that frustrated and sad 16 yr old inside me feels inadequate, he holds me and reassures me that I was never ever dumb. That my brain is just different and that’s okay.

I love my husband so much. Little by little I am healing from that intense anxiety.

[zorbasmedia]

Top 30 Excel Formulas and Functions You Should Know

Microsoft Excel stands as a powerhouse, and at the heart of its prowess lies a tool that transforms raw data into meaningful insights — Formulas. These dynamic instructions, initiated with the humble equal sign (=), unleash a spectrum of functions, from basic arithmetic operations to intricate statistical analyses.

Join us on a journey to unravel the mysteries of Microsoft Excel Formulas, where we’ll delve into their diverse functionalities, explore how they automate tasks, and understand their pivotal role in data analysis and manipulation.

What is an Excel Formula?

In Microsoft Excel, a formula is more than just an equation; it’s an expression that operates on values within a range of cells. These formulas execute calculations, from basic arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction to more complex tasks such as calculating averages, percentages, and manipulating date and time values.

In Microsoft Excel, both formulas and functions are essential tools for performing calculations and manipulating data within a spreadsheet. While the terms “formula” and “function” are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings in the context of Excel.

Excel formula: a formula in Excel is an expression that performs a calculation on values in a range of cells. Formulas can be simple or complex, involving various mathematical operations, cell references, and functions. Formulas always begin with an equal sign (=), indicating to Excel that it should interpret the following characters as a formula. For example, a simple addition formula to add the values in cells A1 and B1 would be written as =A1 + B1.

In essence, a formula is a user-created instruction that Excel follows to calculate a result based on the provided data.

Excel function: a function, on the other hand, is a predefined formula built into Excel. Functions are designed to perform specific tasks or calculations and are categorized into various types, such as mathematical, statistical, logical, text, date and time, and more. Functions are like ready-made tools that users can utilize to simplify complex calculations without having to write out the entire formula manually.

Functions are typically written with a specific syntax and may have arguments (input values) that define their behavior. For example, the SUM function is used to add up a range of values. The formula =SUM(A1:A5) would sum the values in cells A1 through A5.

Differences: The key difference lies in their origin and nature:

Formula: It is a user-created expression or set of instructions for performing calculations.

Function: It is a predefined operation or task built into Excel, designed to simplify common calculations.

In summary, while all functions are formulas, not all formulas are functions. Formulas encompass a broader range of expressions, including those that users create themselves, whereas functions specifically refer to predefined operations provided by Excel for various tasks.

How to use formulas in Excel

Choose a cell: Select the target cell for your calculation.

Enter an equal sign (=): Initiate the formula with the equal sign.

Enter the address of a cell or select from the list: Specify the cells involved in the calculation.

Enter an operator: Use operators like +, -, *, / for your mathematical operations.

Press Enter: Execute the formula.

Basic Arithmetic Operations

Click on the cell where you want the result to appear.

Type the equal sign (=).

Enter the formula using cell references and operators (e.g., =A1+B1).

Using Functions

Excel provides numerous built-in functions for various purposes (e.g., SUM, AVERAGE, IF).

Type the equal sign (=).

Start typing the function name (e.g., =SUM().

Enter the range or values the function should operate on.

Close the function with a closing parenthesis.

AutoSum Feature

Select the cell below or to the right of the data you want to sum.

Click the AutoSum button (Σ) on the toolbar.

Excel will automatically suggest a range. Press Enter to apply the formula.

Common Excel Functions

SUM: Adds up a range of numbers (e.g., =SUM(A1:A5)).

AVERAGE: Calculates the average of a range (e.g., =AVERAGE(B1:B10)).

IF: Performs a conditional test and returns different values based on the condition (e.g., =IF(A1>50, “Yes”, “No”)).

VLOOKUP: Searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a value in the same row (e.g., =VLOOKUP(“ProductX”, A1:B10, 2, FALSE)).

Dragging and Copying Formulas

After entering a formula, you can use the fill handle (a small square at the bottom-right corner of the selected cell) to copy it to adjacent cells.

Click and drag the fill handle to cover the desired range.

Absolute and Relative References

Relative Reference: When you copy a formula, cell references adjust relative to their new location (e.g., A1 becomes B1 if you copy the formula one column to the right).

Absolute Reference: Use a $ sign before the column or row reference to make it absolute (e.g., $A$1 won’t change when copied).

Error Checking

Excel provides error checking features. If a formula contains an error, a small green triangle appears in the top-left corner of the cell. Click on it for options to correct the error.

Formula Auditing Tools

Excel offers tools like Trace Precedents and Trace Dependents to visualize and understand complex formulas.

By following these steps, you can effectively use formulas in Excel to perform calculations and analyze data in your spreadsheets.

Top most useful MS Excel formulas

SUM

The SUM formula is fundamental, adding up all the numerical values within a specified range. This is useful for calculating totals, such as the sum of sales figures or expenses in a given period. Formula: =SUM(range)

AVERAGE

AVERAGE computes the mean of a range of numbers, providing a quick way to assess the central tendency of a dataset. It is commonly used to find the average score or rating. Formula: =AVERAGE(range)

COUNT

COUNT tallies the number of cells in a range containing numerical data. This is handy for tasks like counting the number of completed tasks in a to-do list. Formula: =COUNT(range)

MAX

MAX identifies the highest value in a range, helping users find the peak performance, maximum sales, or the highest recorded temperature, for instance. Formula: =MAX(range)

MIN

On the flip side, MIN locates the lowest value in a range. It’s useful for finding the minimum stock levels, lowest test scores, or minimum temperatures. Formula: =MIN(range)

IF

The IF formula introduces conditional logic into Excel. It returns one value if a given condition is true and another if false. For example, it can be employed to categorize students as “Pass” or “Fail” based on their scores. Formula: =IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false)

VLOOKUP

VLOOKUP searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a corresponding value from another column. This is often used for tasks like retrieving product prices based on product codes. Formula: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

HLOOKUP

Similar to VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP searches for a value in the first row of a table and returns a corresponding value from another row. It’s useful when dealing with datasets organized horizontally. Formula: =HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup])

INDEX and MATCH

INDEX and MATCH together offer a powerful alternative to VLOOKUP. INDEX returns the value in a specified row and column intersection based on the MATCH function, allowing for more flexible searches. Formula: =INDEX(return_range, MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0), MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0))

CONCATENATE

CONCATENATE joins together two or more text strings. This is useful for combining first and last names or merging text with predefined phrases. Formula: =CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], …)

LEFT

LEFT extracts a specified number of characters from the beginning of a text string. For instance, it can be used to extract area codes from phone numbers. Formula: =LEFT(text, num_chars)

RIGHT

Conversely, RIGHT extracts a specified number of characters from the end of a text string. This is handy for capturing file extensions from filenames. Formula: =RIGHT(text, num_chars)

LEN

LEN returns the number of characters in a text string. It’s beneficial when you need to limit the length of input in a cell, such as for usernames or passwords. Formula: =LEN(text)

TRIM

TRIM removes extra spaces from a text string. It’s useful for cleaning up data, especially when dealing with imported or copied text. Formula: =TRIM(text)

LOWER

LOWER converts text to lowercase. This can be helpful for standardizing text data, ensuring consistency in naming conventions. Formula: =LOWER(text)

UPPER

Conversely, UPPER converts text to uppercase. It’s useful for making text stand out or adhering to specific formatting requirements. Formula: =UPPER(text)

PROPER

PROPER capitalizes the first letter of each word in a text string. This is beneficial for enhancing the presentation of names and titles. Formula: =PROPER(text)

IFERROR

IFERROR is employed to handle errors in formulas. It returns a specified value if a formula results in an error, ensuring that error messages are replaced with more user-friendly responses. Formula: =IFERROR(formula, value_if_error)

COUNTIF

COUNTIF counts the number of cells within a range that meet a single condition. This is valuable for situations where you need to quantify occurrences based on a specific criterion. Formula: =COUNTIF(range, criteria)

SUMIF

SUMIF adds the cells specified by a given condition. For example, it can be used to calculate the total sales for a particular product. Formula: =SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range])

COUNTIFS

COUNTIFS extends the functionality of COUNTIF, allowing users to count cells based on multiple conditions. This is useful for more complex data analysis tasks. Formula: =COUNTIFS(range1, criteria1, [range2, criteria2], …)

SUMIFS

Similar to COUNTIFS, SUMIFS adds cells based on multiple conditions. This is often used for intricate financial or sales analyses. Formula: =SUMIFS(sum_range, range1, criteria1, [range2, criteria2], …)

DATE

The DATE formula returns the serial number of a date. It’s helpful for various date-related calculations and is often used in conjunction with other date functions. Formula: =DATE(year, month, day)

NOW

NOW returns the current date and time. This dynamic function is useful for tracking when a particular calculation or data entry occurred. Formula: =NOW()

TODAY

TODAY, in contrast to NOW, returns only the current date. It’s frequently used for date stamping or for calculating durations. Formula: =TODAY()

TEXT

TEXT converts a value to text in a specific format. This is useful for presenting dates or numbers in a more readable or standardized way. Formula: =TEXT(value, format_text)

IFNA

IFNA is used in combination with VLOOKUP to handle #N/A errors. It returns a specified value if the VLOOKUP result is not available, preventing error messages from disrupting the spreadsheet. Formula: =IFNA(value, value_if_na)

OFFSET

OFFSET is a versatile formula that returns a sum of a specified number of rows and columns from a starting cell. It’s useful for dynamic range calculations. Formula: =OFFSET(starting_cell, rows, columns, [height], [width])

INDEX-MATCH-MATCH

This combination of functions is an advanced alternative to VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP. It allows users to find a value at the intersection of a specified row and column based on two matching criteria. Formula: =INDEX(return_range, MATCH(lookup_value1, lookup_range1, 0), MATCH(lookup_value2, lookup_range2, 0))

HYPERLINK

HYPERLINK creates clickable links in Excel. This is useful for creating navigation within a spreadsheet or linking to external documents or websites, enhancing the interactivity of the spreadsheet. Formula: =HYPERLINK(link_location, [friendly_name])

These Excel formulas cover a broad range of functionalities, from basic arithmetic and text manipulation to complex data analysis and lookup operations. They are essential tools for users working with data in various capacities.

Conclusion

Embarking on the journey of Excel formulas opens doors to a realm of unparalleled data manipulation and analysis. In the intricate dance of numbers, Excel emerges as the choreographer, and formulas, its nimble performers, transform raw data into valuable insights. From the fundamental SUM to the sophisticated INDEX-MATCH-MATCH, these formulas orchestrate a symphony of calculations, ensuring efficiency and precision in every keystroke.

Excel’s prowess lies not just in its computational abilities but in its user-friendly interface that empowers individuals, irrespective of their mathematical prowess, to delve into the depths of data manipulation. Each formula, an instrument in this orchestra, brings a unique set of capabilities, allowing users to craft tailored solutions for diverse tasks — from simple arithmetic to complex lookup operations.

The journey doesn’t end here; it evolves with every new formula mastered and every data challenge conquered. Excel, with its arsenal of functions, becomes not just a spreadsheet software but a dynamic toolkit for those seeking to navigate the vast seas of data. So, embrace the power of formulas, chart your course through the Excel landscape, and let each formula be a stepping stone toward data mastery.

Interesting headings:

Affiliate marketing case studies

Bonuses

Reviews

[honorarydoctorate]

How Can You Instantly Use a Percentage to CGPA Calculator?

In today's competitive academic world, understanding your academic performance is crucial — especially when applying for higher education or international programs. One of the most common challenges students face is converting percentage to CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) or vice versa. Whether you're submitting documents abroad, applying for scholarships, or simply comparing your academic profile, a Percentage to CGPA calculator becomes your best friend.

But how do you instantly use one, and how accurate are these tools? Let’s dive into the details.

📊 What Is a Percentage to CGPA Calculator?

A percentage to CGPA calculator is an online tool designed to convert your academic percentage into a grade point average. This tool follows standardized formulas (based on country or institution) to make the conversion seamless, instant, and error-free.

For example, Indian universities typically follow a 10-point CGPA system, whereas international universities may follow 4.0 or 5.0 GPA systems. The calculator helps bridge this gap.

💡 Why Do You Need to Convert Percentage to CGPA?

Here are a few scenarios where using a percentage to CGPA calculator is essential:

Applying to Foreign Universities: Many global institutions require CGPA on a 4.0 scale.

Standardization: To compare your academic performance with international peers.

Scholarship Applications: Some funding bodies use GPA cut-offs.

Professional Documentation: For resumes, competitive exams, or professional profiles like LinkedIn.

Without accurate conversion, your academic profile may not meet the stated requirements — even if your percentage is excellent.

🧮 Common Formulas Used for Conversion

While different institutions use different formulas, a commonly accepted formula for converting percentage to CGPA on a 10-point scale is:

iniCopy

Edit

CGPA = Percentage ÷ 9.5

Example:

If your percentage is 85%, CGPA = 85 ÷ 9.5 = 8.95

Similarly, if you're converting to a 4.0 GPA scale, the calculation varies slightly and depends on the academic standards of the destination country or institution.

⚡ How to Instantly Use a Percentage to CGPA Calculator?

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

✅ Step 1: Choose the Right Calculator

Search online for a “Percentage to CGPA calculator” or visit academic support platforms like Aimlay.com, which also offer CGPA conversion tools for Indian and global scales.

✅ Step 2: Enter Your Percentage

Type your total or average percentage from your mark sheets (for example: 76.5%).

✅ Step 3: Select the Scale

Choose whether you want the CGPA on a 10-point, 4-point, or 5-point scale.

✅ Step 4: Click ‘Convert’ or ‘Calculate’

The tool will instantly display your CGPA value.

✅ Step 5: Note or Download the Result

Some calculators let you copy the result, email it, or download a PDF for official use.

✅ Benefits of Using a Percentage to CGPA Calculator

🔹 Accuracy: Minimizes manual calculation errors.

🔹 Speed: Get results instantly with one click.

🔹 Convenience: No need to understand complex formulas.

🔹 Versatility: Supports multiple grading scales (Indian & International).

🔹 Useful for Applications: Helps you align your academic scores with global standards.

🛑 Common Mistakes to Avoid

While using such tools is easy, students often make these errors:

Using the Wrong Formula: Each institution may have unique conversion metrics.

Ignoring Decimal Points: Rounding too early can cause inaccuracies.

Confusing CGPA with GPA: They are not the same — CGPA is usually on a 10-point scale, GPA on 4.0 or 5.0.

Not Verifying the Source: Use calculators from trusted academic websites or platforms like Aimlay.com.

🌐 Top Sites Offering CGPA Calculators

Here are a few reliable platforms you can check out:

Aimlay.com – Offers academic tools and admission support for higher education.

CollegeDunia

Shiksha.com

UpGrad Education

CalculatorSoup.com – For international scale GPA conversions.

🧾 When Should You Include CGPA Instead of Percentage?

You can include your CGPA:

When applying for international universities or visas.

If the application portal requires GPA input only.

On your LinkedIn or Resume for standardization.

In case your institution follows the credit-based system.

On the other hand, if your mark sheet is in percentage, make sure to mention both (e.g., “85% / CGPA 8.95”) if space allows.

[jaroeducations]

The Ultimate Guide to Calculating Percentages in Excel (With Examples)

Learn how to calculate percentages in Excel with practical examples, including percentage of totals, increases, and decreases. This guide covers essential formulas and formatting tips to help you analyze data effectively and make informed decisions. Whether you're managing budgets or tracking performance, mastering these Excel techniques is invaluable Read More...

[tpointtechedu]

Top 10 Power BI terms Every New User should know

If you are just getting started with Power BI, understanding the key terms will help you navigate the platform more effectively. Here are the top 10 Power BI terms every new user should know:

1) Dataset

A dataset in Power BI refers to information that has been imported from Excel, SQL or cloud services. Reports and dashboards can only be created by first having the necessary datasets. They save everything, including the raw data and the designs, relationships, measures and calculated columns we’ve built in Power BI. Creating, handling and updating datasets are basic skills needed because data push in analytics, give instant business insights and bind different data sources.

2) Report

A Power BI report is made up of charts, graphs and tables, all built from data in a dataset. With reports, we have an interactive tool to explore your notes, click deeper and review additional information. Every report page is designed to communicate a certain story or point out a specific part of your data. To ensure your organization makes good decisions, it helps to know how to create and customize reports.

3) Dashboard

The dashboard in Power BI are a grouping of visual components and metrics. It gives a general and joined-up look at important observations, unlike reports that just provide a detailed view of each report or group of data. They offer business leaders an easy way to monitor and check business KPIs at any time. Managers and executives benefit from dashboards, since they can get the needed performance updates without going through many detailed reports.

4) Visualization

A visualization in Power BI presents the data using images. It is sometimes known as a visual or chart. Bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, maps, tables and similar options are part of visualizations. They change difficult-to-read information into clear graphics that can show trends, unusual values and details quickly. With Power BI, users have many ways to change how the visualizations look for their organization. To make exciting reports and dashboards, we should learn to use visualizations well.

5) Measure

In Power BI, measures are calculations designed to study data, and we can build them using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions). Unlike regular columns, measures can refresh their values at any time based on reports or what a user selects. It is easy to find the total, average, ratio, percentage and complex groups with measures. Working on efficient measures helps we turn your data into useful insights and boosts your analytical skills within Power BI.

6) Calculated Column

To create a calculated column, we add a DAX formula to some input fields in your data. We can add new information to your data using calculated columns such as grouping, marking special items or defining values for ourselves. Unlike measures, these columns are evaluated when the data refreshes rather than at query time. Having calculated columns in our data model ensures that your reports become richer and better fit your company’s specific needs.

7) Filter

We can narrow the data in your charts and graphs using filters in Power BI. They can be used at the report, page or graphical levels. Using filters, we can narrow down your analysis to a particular time, type or area of the business. Additional options available include slicers, filters for dates and filters for moving down to the next page. Adding the right filters makes your reports more relevant, so stakeholders can easily spot the main insights.

8) Data Model

Any Power BI project depends on a solid data model as its core structure. It shows the connections between data tables by using relationships, Primary Keys and Foreign Keys. In addition, the data model has calculated columns, measures and hierarchies to organize your data for use properly.

With a proper data model in place, our analysis results are correct, queries are fast, and your visualizations are easy to interact with. To create stable and scalable Power BI projects, one must learn about modelling.

9) DAX is Data Analysis Expressions

Power BI provides DAX as a language for creating your calculations in measures, calculated columns and tables. DAX has functions, operators and values that make it possible to create advanced rules for a business.

When we master DAX, we can use analytics for many purposes, including complex grouping, analyzing time and transforming the data. Knowing the basics of DAX will help new Power BI users make the most of the product’s reporting capabilities.

10) Power Query

The purpose of Power Query is to prepare your data for use in Power BI. The platform enables users to bring data from various locations, clean it, format it and transform it before it enters the data model. An easy-to-use interface and the M language in Power Query make it simple to merge, filter duplicates, organize columns and fill out repetitive tasks on the table. By using Power Query, it becomes smoother to ETL your data and it is always accurate and easy to analyze.

Conclusion

Understanding the core terminology of Power BI is essential for anyone new to the platform. These top 10 terms, like datasets, reports, dashboards, DAX, and visualizations—form the building blocks of how Power BI works and how data is transformed into meaningful insights. I suggest you learn Power BI from the Tpoint Tech website. It provides a Power BI tutorial, interview questions that helps you to learn Power BI features and tools in easier way.