Harnessing the power of Looker Studio (formerly Google Data Studio), one can conduct an array of data analysis and mathematical computations in a surprisingly simple and streamlined manner. Among its diverse functionalities is a mathematical gem — the COS function.
The COS function is primarily used to compute the cosine of an angle. Being one of the basic trigonometric functions, COS or cosine is incredibly useful for a wide range of scientific calculations, data analysis tasks and more.
To accomplish this, the COS function requires the formulation,
This function can be fed any field or expression, as long as it contains a minimum of one field. An essential aspect to remember is that the input value, denoted by X, must be expressed in radians.
As a tip, degrees can be efficiently converted into radians using the formula, Degrees * PI() / 180.
At its core, this function works by taking an angle, 'X', as an input, and then returning the cosine of that particular angle, which is a mathematical operation.
Let's venture into some carefully crafted examples to better understand its utility.
For instance, conceiving a mock scenario where an e-commerce store is maintaining a data set related to products featured on weekly sales. Columns could include something like:
The 'Sale_Angle' column here is used to depict some hidden sales metric in radians. If we wish to find exactly what this 'Sale_Angle' is portraying in reality, we could use the COS function in Google Data Studio to achieve this.
The outcome of this function will provide a new set of values – the exact metrics that 'Sale_Angle' was representing.
Although an instrumental function, the COS does have its limitations. It’s critical to note that the function will only operate with radian parameters. Additionally, the values it returns will always oscillate between -1 and 1, a trait inherently owned by the cosine function.
Despite its certain restrictions, the COS function is a versatile tool within Google Data Studio's toolbox. Implementation of this function can often offer innovative solutions to complex problems and proves to be an invaluable asset to any data analyst maintaining large sets of data, especially when dealing with rotational elements or cyclical data patterns.
Remember, the key to unlocking COS’s potential lies in proper input – pay special attention to formatting your data into radians, and successful results are sure to follow.
The world of mathematics is as profound as it is beautiful, and Google Data Studio encapsulates a fraction of this realm right on your computer screens – happy computing!
