This cell will become the upper right cell in the output table. Or you can specify a specific output range cell on the current worksheet. The regression tool generates a large table of statistics, so you may want to store them on a new worksheet. Next, select where the output data should be stored. If this box is unchecked, the constant will be calculated similarly to our previous regression analyses. We can choose to set the intercept, or constant, to zero. We’ll cover those in a minute, but let’s just keep it simple for now.įirst, place the cursor in the box for “Input Y Range”, and select the y-values or dependent variables. When the regression window opens, you’ll be greeted by tons of options. Open the Analsis Toolpak Add-In from the ribbon and scroll down until you see Regression. Simple Linear Regression Analysis with the Analysis Toolpak The Analysis Toolpak will be available in the Data tab in the Analysis group (on the far right of the ribbon and next to Solver).
We can use this same concept to do more complex multiple linear regression or non-linear regression analysis in Excel. In the case of a simple linear regression like we have here, Solver is probably complete overkill. After all, we have just done “manually” what the Trendline tool and LINEST do automatically. Exactly what was predicted by the chart trendline and LINEST. When we click “Solve”, the Solver does its thing and finds that the values m = 165.36 and b = -79.85 define the best-fit line through the data. When properly set up, the solver dialog should look like this: As a last step, uncheck the option to “Make Unconstrained Variables Non-Negative”.To do so, we will change variable cells E3 and F3, the slope and y-intercept of our linear equation.We want to minimize the objective, cell H3, or the sum of the squared errors.With the Solver open, the setup for this is pretty straightforward. You’ll find it way over on the right side of the ribbon: Follow the steps here to enable the Solver.Īfter the Add-In has been loaded, you can open the Solver from the Data tab. If you have never used the Solver Add-In before, you must first enable it. Next, enter some guess values for m and b into some cells on the worksheet. Let’s start again with the x- and y- data we had before. Use the Solver to find values of the slope and intercept that minimize the total error.Calculate the error between the calculated y-values and the y-data.Calculate new y-values based on those guess values.Enter “guess-values” for the slope and intercept of the equation.
It will also introduce you to the possibilities for more complicated curve fitting using Excel. I’ve included it here because it provides some understanding into the way that the previous linear regression methods work. Fortunately, it will probably be unnecessary to ever use this method for simple linear regression. This method is more complex than both of the previous methods. That means we can use them dynamically in a calculation somewhere else in the spreadsheet. This was obviously more work than using a trendline, but the real advantage here is that the slope and y-intercept values have been output to a cell.