Spreadsheet Models for Managers


Getting Access to Spreadsheet Models for Managers


If Spreadsheet Models for Managersyou use Excel to model businesses, business processes, or business transactions, this course will change your life. You’ll learn how to create tools for yourself that will amaze even you. Unrestricted use of this material is available in two ways.

As a stand-alone Web site
It resides on your computer, and you can use it anywhere. No need for Internet access.
At this Web site
If you have access to the Internet whenever you want to view this material, you can purchase on-line access. Unlimited usage. I’m constantly making improvements and you’ll get them as soon as they’re available.

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Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, on-line edition, one month" by credit card, for USD 69.95 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.
Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, on-line edition, three months" by credit card, for USD 199.00 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.
Order "Spreadsheet Models for Managers, downloadable hyperbook edition" by credit card, for USD 199.00 each, using our secure server, and receive download instructions by return email.

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Make your check payable to Chaco Canyon Consulting, for the amount indicated:
  • For the download: USD 199.00
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  • For access online for one month: USD 69.95
And send it to:
Chaco Canyon Consulting
700 Huron Avenue, Suite 19C
Cambridge, MA 02138

To use the course software you’ll need some other applications, which you very probably already have. By placing your order, you’re confirming that you have the software you need, as described on this site.

Spreadsheet Models for Managers

Matrix multiplication 2/7
Session Links
  • A matrix is represented by a rectangular range
    • An “m by n” matrix has m rows and n columns (written “mxn”)
    • In a matrix product A•B, the first factor A must have as many columns as the second factor B has rows
    • The product has the same number of rows as the first factor and the same number of columns as the second factor
  • To multiply a 1xp matrix by a px1 matrix:
    • Multiply each of the respective elements together and sum
  • For different sizes, just break them up into 1xn and nx1

Readings: Matrices and Matrix Multiplication

Matrix multiplication looks complicated. When first learning it, you might have the reaction, “What does this have to do with me?” The short answer is that it captures in a neat package a long series of complex manipulations that we would otherwise have to perform more explicitly.

By introducing the formalism of matrices, we can move our thinking to a higher level. No longer need we be concerned with specific cells and cell formulas. Matrices give us a way of manipulating blocks of data instead of a series of manipulations of cells.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 27-Apr-2016 04:15:26 EDT

Matrix Multiplication and Array Arithmetic

For many of you, matrix multiplication and array arithmetic are new ideas. It’s easy to get lost in the details of how they work and then forget about why we use them.

To keep a clear view of the forest and avoid focusing only on the trees, remember why we use matrix multiplication and array arithmetic. Briefly, we use them because we find that it’s very often helpful to decompose a problem into parts (analysis), then do calculations on the parts, and finally reassemble the final solution from the results of those partial calculations (synthesis).

Matrix multiplication and array arithmetic provide us with very convenient methods for performing those intermediate calculations on the parts. They’re the tools that make analysis and synthesis so powerful.