Ravindra BagaleCourses & study guides

11. What-If Analysis

11.4 Two-variable Data Table

Two inputs at once: one along the column, one along the row; the formula sits in the top-left corner.

Steps in Excel – orders per day × AOV

  1. In H2 type =B13.
  2. Orders per day down H3:H5: 400, 500, 600. AOV across I2:K2: 300, 320, 350.
  3. Select H2:K5 › Data › Forecast › What-If Analysis › Data Table…
  4. Row input cell: B3 (AOV, because AOV values are in the row) › Column input cell: B2 (orders) › OK.
  5. Apply a red–green colour scale (Module 2.7) to see the break-even frontier.
Orders/day ↓ · AOV → ₹300 ₹320 ₹350
400 -₹1,38,000 -₹94,800 -₹30,000
500 -₹60,000 -₹6,000 ₹75,000
600 ₹18,000 ₹82,800 ₹1,80,000

Reading it: at ₹350 AOV the store is profitable from about 500 orders/day; at ₹300 it needs nearly 600.

Ravindra Bagale's Tip

In a two-variable table, keep the formula (=B13) in the corner cell and give it a custom format like "Orders ↓ AOV →" – many students leave the formula cell empty or delete it, and the table doesn't work. If you want to hide the formula, show text with a format; don't delete it.

Practice task

Build a two-variable table of Profit for gross margin % (15%, 18%, 21%) × orders per day (400, 450, 500, 550) and highlight profitable combinations.