Understanding Linear and Exponential Regression

Excel includes several array functions for performing linear regression—LINEST, TREND, FORECAST, SLOPE, and STEYX—and exponential regression—LOGEST and GROWTH. These functions are entered as array formulas and they produce array results. You can use each of these functions with one or several independent variables. The following list provides a definition of the different types of regression:

  • Linear regression produces the slope of a line that best fits a single set of data. Based on a year's worth of sales figures, for example, linear regression can tell you the projected sales for March of the following year by giving you the slope and y-intercept (that is, the point where the line crosses the y-axis) ...

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