MS Excel Query. How to find “m” in “y=mx+c” for a range of values

I have many sets of data.
I can graph each one, do a trendline and look at its slope (by showing the equation of the linear trndline)

Can this be done without drawing graph?

so if I five values
say

5 6 7 8 9

It would return the value 1 (as thats the average increase). Obviously my numbers are different.

Big ask, but I know how good you are.
Thanks for looking

Should be easy, it’s just a calculated column.

You know Y (5,6,7,8,9 from your values above)

You just need to reverse the calculation, so that you know what m is:

from: y = mx + c

to mx = y – c

to m = (y-c)/x

Simply put that calculation into a column in excel (assuming you have all the other data of course).

Is your line a curve or is it straight? I presume your trendline is a line that is drawn at a tangent to the curve.

the trend function can do this. (google it)

Is your line a curve or is it straight?

y = mx + c is inherently a straight line is it not?

😕

tomthumb, looks like you’ve understood. I looked at the trend value and I got an odd result, that looked like it was trying to guess the next value.

I’ve just tried googling. I’m not quite there yet… I’ll keep trying unless you have some more pointers.

Thanks to all.

if you specify a table with x values 1, 2, 3, 4 etc and next to it put your observed y values, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 etc then the function:

=LINEST(B1:B5,A1:A5,1)

gives “m”

Stoner, you are a star!
Tomthumb, Thanks – I used your method and managed to bodge the result, but stoner’s is exactly what I wanted – granted I didn’t put the question quite right.

STW does it again…. you would NOT believe what I am trying to calculate (for the Mrs’ early morning meeting)

Thanks to all

My bill will be in the post.

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🙂