Statistical
Linear Forecast/Trend
Use linear regression to forecast future values based on historical trends. The FORECAST function fits a straight line through your data and projects it forward.
Excel Formula
=FORECAST(C2, A2:A100, B2:B100)Step-by-Step Explanation
1
FORECAST predicts a value using linear regression
2
C2 is the x-value to predict for (e.g., future date or period)
3
A2:A100 are the known y-values (the data you're predicting)
4
B2:B100 are the known x-values (periods or dates)
5
Fits a best-fit straight line and extrapolates
Example
| Month# (B) | Sales (A) | Forecast |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10,000 | |
| 2 | $12,000 | |
| 3 | $13,500 | |
| 4 | $15,200 | |
| 5 (future) | $16,700 |
Result: =FORECAST(5,A2:A5,B2:B5) → $16,700 predicted
Common Variations
FORECAST.LINEAR
=FORECAST.LINEAR(C2,A2:A100,B2:B100)Explicit linear forecast (Excel 365)
TREND
=TREND(A2:A100,B2:B100,C2)Similar function, can return arrays
Slope & intercept
=SLOPE(A2:A100,B2:B100)*C2+INTERCEPT(A2:A100,B2:B100)Manual y = mx + b calculation
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