How to Solve for New X-Values Using INDEX and LINEST (147266)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q147266

SUMMARY

This article contains information about how to determine values for a set of unknown x-values when you are given a set of known x-values and known y-values.

MORE INFORMATION

In order to determine new x-values for a given set of data, you must solve for the following linear equation 

   y = mx + b


where y is the dependent y-value, m is the slope coefficient corresponding to each x-value, and b is a constant representing the y-intercept of the line.

You can solve this equation using the INDEX and LINEST functions.

The LINEST function is used to calculate the slope and the y-intercept values for the line, which are returned as a two-element array. The INDEX function allows you to retrieve these two values from the array and to use them to calculate the following formula: 

   x = ( y - b ) / m
-or- 

   UnknownX = ( NewY - y-intercept ) / slope
The following example illustrates how to determine a set of unknown x's using the formula shown above. Assume that you have the following table of known x- and y-values: 

   A1:  Known x's   B1:  Known y's
   A2:   2          B2:  100
   A3:   4          B3:  110
   A4:   6          B4:  120
   A5:   8          B5:  130
   A6:  10          B6:  140
   A7:              B7:   95
   A8:              B8:  105
   A9:              B9:  115
   A10:             B10: 135


To solve for the unknown x-values in cells A7:A10, follow these steps:

  1. In cells D1 and D2, type the following formulas:

    D1: =INDEX(LINEST(B2:B6,A2:A6),1,1)

    D2: =INDEX(LINEST(B2:B6,A2:A6),1,2)

     These formulas return the slope and y-intercept values shown below: 
          D1: 5
      D2: 90
  2. You can now use these values to solve for each unknown x-value by using the formula (provided above) to solve for x. To do this, type the following formula in cell A7: A7: =(B7-$D$2)/$D$1
  3. Copy this formula to cells A8:A10.
The worksheet should now be similar to the following table:

NOTE: You may need to format the cells so they do not show decimal values. 

   A1:  Known X's   B1:  Known Y's
   A2:   2          B2:  100
   A3:   4          B3:  110
   A4:   6          B4:  120
   A5:   8          B5:  130
   A6:  10          B6:  140
   A7:   1          B7:   95
   A8:   3          B8:  105
   A9:   5          B9:  115
   A10:  9          B10: 135

REFERENCES

Excel 97

For more information about the INDEX function, click Contents And Index on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

index

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "INDEX worksheet function" topic. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.

For more information about the LINEST function, click Contents And Index on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

linest

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "LINEST worksheet function" topic. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.

Excel 5.0

For more information about the INDEX function, click the Search button in Microsoft Excel Help and type the following text:

index function

For more information about the LINEST function, click the Search button in Microsoft Excel Help and type the following text:

linest function

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbualink97 KB147266
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