Excel - Doing Billions Of Calculations To Study Wordle - Episode 2467

Microsoft Excel Tutorial: What is the best or worst Wordle starting word?

In this MrExcel podcast, we dive deep into the fascinating world of Wordle, but with an Excel twist! I take you through my original Wordle Helper spreadsheet, where 56 formulas work their magic to determine which words are still "in play" based on your guesses and the tile patterns. But, hold on, this isn't just another Wordle video – it's an Excel video where I geek out about the incredible Excel-ness.

We explore the vast Wordle universe, consisting of 5,359,225 possible combinations, and I share the jaw-dropping revelation that my $10 spreadsheet performs 1,596,000,000 calculations in under 5 minutes. Impressive, right? We discuss the strategy of choosing the best first word, contemplating options like AROSE, ARISE, raise, arise, trace, crate, and more.

The Wordle universe expands further as we consider 2,315 possible Wordle words against a larger population of 10,657 words that will never be the answer but are valid guesses. A whopping 1,307,560,615 cells make up this Wordle universe, showcasing the power of Excel.

I also provide insights into the best and worst first words, backed by data on the chances of having over 100 words with each guess. Whether you're in it to minimize chances or maximize wins, the Wordle Part 3 analysis breaks down the probabilities for you.

To wrap it up, I touch on my unexpected feature in a CNN article and being spotlighted as a Wordle expert by Florida Citrus Sports. If you're as intrigued by Excel and Wordle as I am, share your thoughts in the YouTube comments. Who knows, there might be more exciting avenues to explore in the world of Wordle and Excel! 📊✨ #MrExcel #Wordle #ExcelMagic

After my previous video showing AROSE as the best first guess in Wordle, I started doing some more cool Excel formulas to test all Wordle words. This is a long video for the weekend, mostly of me geeking out about Excel and doing 1.5 billion calculations with a $10 spreadsheet.

Table of Contents
(0:00) Introduction
(1:15) Colors in 53 formulas
(6:10) Laurent Lessard or 3Blue1Brown
(7:25) The 2315 words
(8:50) Solving for 5.3 Million with 284 MM formulas in Excel
(10:40) The 10,972 words
(11:57) 2315 x 12972 x 53 of 1.3 billion
(13:00) Wordle Universe 1.596 billion calcs
(14:25) Can be the answer?
(14:59) Count unique constellations per guess
(17:17) It is not 3^5 possible answers
(18:10) Show 10 largest using LARGE in Excel
(18:30) Using Ctrl+Right Arrow in Excel
(18:46) TRACE, CRATE, or SALET starting words
(19:38) 10 words with most constellations
(20:14) Max words in play after any guess
(20:36) COUNTIF for each in array in Excel
(21:30) What's the most words still in play
(22:20) RAISE or ARISE for less words in play
(23:00) Is Wordle a hostile opponent?
(23:34) Solving methodology
(25:05) Filtering to find 10 words still in play
(26:00) Sheet2 for words still in play
(26:38) Evaluating the best for 2nd word
(28:45) Guessing a wrong word narrows it for the win
(29:16) Which words will minimize words in play
(30:00) Having 221 after first guess
(30:25) Using Excel Advanced Filter from another sheet
(32:05) End game strategy wins 2nd guess from now
(34:10) Increase chance of less than 100 words after first guess
(35:30) Maximize winning in 2 PARSE, CRATE, TRACE
(36:50) The worst first guesses in Wordle
(37:15) TARES, SANER, AISLE, ALONE as best words
(38:40) Over 1000 words in play after first guess
(39:10) AISLE ALONE for less than 200 words
(39:20) PARSE or CRATE or TRACE

#excel #wordle

This video answers these common search terms:
1.5 billion calculations in Excel
AROSE vs TRACE in Wordle
Building Wordle model in Excel
CONCAT formula in Excel
Converting series of ones and zeros
Detecting duplicate letters in guess
Excel ability with large calculations
Excel dynamic array formulas
Excel video for sleep
Finding gray cells in Wordle
Finding yellow cells in Wordle
Formula for breaking word into horizontal cells
Larry Robinson email obsession
Scoring green cells in Wordle
Testing non-Wordle word guesses in Wordle strategy.
Wordle analysis by Laurent Lessard and 3Blue 1Brown
Wordle word population and constellation analysis
Wyn Hopkins' solution

This video answers these common search terms:
best first word for wordle
1.5 billion calculations in excel for wordle
wordle excel analysis
excel strategies for wordle
mrexcel wordle helper tutorial
optimizing wordle guesses with excel
wordle universe calculations in excel
analyzing wordle strategy with excel
excel for wordle enthusiasts
mrexcel wordle strategy guide
excel magic in wordle solving

[danmayoh]

It's great you recorded and uploaded all this for everyone to see! Thanks for the shoutouts too. It's been fun discussing the game with you back and forth.

[excelisfun]

Thanks for the 40 minute video "Supplant" Super Bowl fun!!!! Mr Excel!!!!

[kjvstats]

Bill, that's an extensive piece of analysis. TRACE + CRATE are, of course, anagrams. I noticed you identified quite a few examples with anagrams. I will be using ALONE + AISLE + TRACE in future. I have been using CRANE, as advised by 1Blue3Brown on YouTube, but I will give your suggestions a go. Thanks.

[GrainneDuggan_Excel]

Mrs. Excel must be a very patient woman! 🤣

[brianxyz]

How do "opine" and "psalm" rate as guesses? I find "psalm" to be very helpful in figuring out if four of the more common constants are part of the Wordle word of the day.