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How to use Solver in Excel with examples

The tutorial explains how to add and where to find Solver in different Excel versions, from 2016 to 2003. Step-by-step examples show how to use Excel Solver to find optimal solutions for linear programming and other kinds of problems.

Everyone knows that Microsoft Excel contains a lot of useful functions and powerful tools that can save you hours of calculations. But did you know that it also has a tool that can help you find optimal solutions for decision problems?

In this tutorial, we are going to cover all essential aspects of the Excel Solver add-in and provide a step-by-step guide on how to use it most effectively.

What is Excel Solver?

Excel Solver belongs to a special set of commands often referred to as What-if Analysis Tools. It is primarily purposed for simulation and optimization of various business and engineering models.

The Excel Solver add-in is especially useful for solving linear programming problems, aka linear optimization problems, and therefore is sometimes called a linear programming solver . Apart from that, it can handle smooth nonlinear and non-smooth problems. Please see Excel Solver algorithms for more details.

How to add Solver to Excel

The Solver add-in is included with all versions of Microsoft Excel beginning with 2003, but it is not enabled by default.

To add Solver to your Excel, perform the following steps:

• In Excel 2010 - Excel 365, click File > Options . In Excel 2007, click the Microsoft Office button, and then click Excel Options .

To get Solver on Excel 2003 , go to the Tools menu, and click Add-Ins . In the Add-Ins available list, check the Solver Add-in box, and click OK .

Where is Solver in Excel?

Where is Solver in Excel 2003?

Now that you know where to find Solver in Excel, open a new worksheet and let's get started!

How to use Solver in Excel

Before running the Excel Solver add-in, formulate the model you want to solve in a worksheet. In this example, let's find a solution for the following simple optimization problem.

Problem . Supposing, you are the owner of a beauty salon and you are planning on providing a new service to your clients. For this, you need to buy a new equipment that costs $40,000, which should be paid by instalments within 12 months.

Goal : Calculate the minimal cost per service that will let you pay for the new equipment within the specified timeframe.

And now, let's see how Excel Solver can find a solution for this problem.

1. Run Excel Solver

2. define the problem.

The Solver Parameters window will open where you have to set up the 3 primary components:

• Objective cell

Variable cells

Constraints.

Exactly what does Excel Solver do with the above parameters? It finds the optimal value (maximum, minimum or specified) for the formula in the Objective cell by changing the values in the Variable cells, and subject to limitations in the Constraints cells.

The Objective cell ( Target cell in earlier Excel versions) is the cell containing a formula that represents the objective, or goal, of the problem. The objective can be to maximize, minimize, or achieve some target value.

Variable cells ( Changing cells or Adjustable cells in earlier versions) are cells that contain variable data that can be changed to achieve the objective. Excel Solver allows specifying up to 200 variable cells.

In this example, we have a couple of cells whose values can be changed:

• Projected clients per month (B4) that should be less than or equal to 50; and
• Cost per service (B5) that we want Excel Solver to calculate.

The Excel Solver Constrains are restrictions or limits of the possible solutions to the problem. To put it differently, constraints are the conditions that must be met.

To add a constraint(s), do the following:

• Click the Add button right to the " Subject to the Constraints " box.

• In the Constraint window, enter a constraint.
• Click the Add button to add the constraint to the list.

• Continue entering other constraints.
• After you have entered the final constraint, click OK to return to the main Solver Parameters window.

Excel Solver allows specifying the following relationships between the referenced cell and the constraint.

• Less than or equal to , equal to , and greater than or equal to . You set these relationships by selecting a cell in the Cell Reference box, choosing one of the following signs: <= , =, or >= , and then typing a number, cell reference / cell name, or formula in the Constraint box (please see the above screenshot).
• Integer . If the referenced cell must be an integer, select int , and the word integer will appear in the Constraint box.
• Different values . If each cell in the referenced range must contain a different value, select dif , and the word AllDifferent will appear in the Constraint box.
• Binary . If you want to limit a referenced cell either to 0 or 1, select bin , and the word binary will appear in the Constraint box.

To edit or delete an existing constraint do the following:

• In the Solver Parameters dialog box, click the constraint.
• To modify the selected constraint, click Change and make the changes you want.
• To delete the constraint, click the Delete button.

In this example, the constraints are:

• B3=40000 - cost of the new equipment is $40,000.
• B4<=50 - the number of projected patients per month in under 50.

3. Solve the problem

After you've configured all the parameters, click the Solve button at the bottom of the Solver Parameters window (see the screenshot above) and let the Excel Solver add-in find the optimal solution for your problem.

Depending on the model complexity, computer memory and processor speed, it may take a few seconds, a few minutes, or even a few hours.

The Solver Result window will close and the solution will appear on the worksheet right away.

• If the Excel Solver has been processing a certain problem for too long, you can interrupt the process by pressing the Esc key. Excel will recalculate the worksheet with the last values found for the Variable cells.
• To get more details about the solved problem, click a report type in the Reports box, and then click OK . The report will be created on a new worksheet:

Excel Solver examples

Below you will find two more examples of using the Excel Solver addin. First, we will find a solution for a well-known puzzle, and then solve a real-life linear programming problem.

Excel Solver example 1 (magic square)

I believe everyone is familiar with "magic square" puzzles where you have to put a set of numbers in a square so that all rows, columns and diagonals add up to a certain number.

For instance, do you know a solution for the 3x3 square containing numbers from 1 to 9 where each row, column and diagonal adds up to 15?

It's probably no big deal to solve this puzzle by trial and error, but I bet the Solver will find the solution faster. Our part of the job is to properly define the problem.

With all the formulas in place, run Solver and set up the following parameters:

• Set Objective . In this example, we don't need to set any objective, so leave this box empty.
• Variable Cells . We want to populate numbers in cells B2 to D4, so select the range B2:D4.
• $B$2:$D$4 = AllDifferent - all of the Variable cells should contain different values.
• $B$2:$D$4 = integer - all of the Variable cells should be integers.
• $B$5:$D$5 = 15 - the sum of values in each column should equal 15.
• $E$2:$E$4 = 15 - the sum of values in each row should equal 15.
• $B$7:$B$8 = 15 - the sum of both diagonals should equal 15.

Excel Solver example 2 (linear programming problem)

This is an example of a simple transportation optimization problem with a linear objective. More complex optimization models of this kind are used by many companies to save thousands of dollars each year.

Problem : You want to minimize the cost of shipping goods from 2 different warehouses to 4 different customers. Each warehouse has a limited supply and each customer has a certain demand.

Goal : Minimize the total shipping cost, not exceeding the quantity available at each warehouse, and meeting the demand of each customer.

Source data

Formulating the model

To define our linear programming problem for the Excel Solver, let's answer the 3 main questions:

• What decisions are to be made? We want to calculate the optimal quantity of goods to deliver to each customer from each warehouse. These are Variable cells (B7:E8).
• What are the constraints? The supplies available at each warehouse (I7:I8) cannot be exceeded, and the quantity ordered by each customer (B10:E10) should be delivered. These are Constrained cells .
• What is the goal? The minimal total cost of shipping. And this is our Objective cell (C12).

To make our transportation optimization model easier to understand, create the following named ranges:

The last thing left for you to do is configure the Excel Solver parameters:

• Objective: Shipping_cost set to Min
• Variable cells: Products_shipped
• Constraints: Total_received = Ordered and Total_shipped <= Available

How to save and load Excel Solver scenarios

When solving a certain model, you may want to save your Variable cell values as a scenario that you can view or re-use later.

For example, when calculating the minimal service cost in the very first example discussed in this tutorial, you may want to try different numbers of projected clients per month and see how that affects the service cost. At that, you may want to save the most probable scenario you've already calculated and restore it at any moment.

Saving an Excel Solver scenario boils down to selecting a range of cells to save the data in. Loading a Solver model is just a matter of providing Excel with the range of cells where your model is saved. The detailed steps follow below.

Saving the model

To save the Excel Solver scenario, perform the following steps:

• Open the worksheet with the calculated model and run the Excel Solver.

• Excel will save your current model, which may look something similar to this:

Loading the saved model

When you decide to restore the saved scenario, do the following:

• In the Solver Parameters window, click the Load/Save button.

• This will open the main Excel Solver window with the parameters of the previously saved model. All you need to do is to click the Solve button to re-calculate it.

Excel Solver algorithms

When defining a problem for the Excel Solver, you can choose one of the following methods in the Select a Solving Method dropdown box:

• GRG Nonlinear. Generalized Reduced Gradient Nonlinear algorithm is used for problems that are smooth nonlinear, i.e. in which at least one of the constraints is a smooth nonlinear function of the decision variables. More details can be found here .
• LP Simplex . The Simplex LP Solving method is based the Simplex algorithm created by an American mathematical scientist George Dantzig. It is used for solving so called Linear Programming problems - mathematical models whose requirements are characterized by linear relationships, i.e. consist of a single objective represented by a linear equation that must be maximized or minimized. For more information, please check out this page .
• Evolutionary . It is used for non-smooth problems, which are the most difficult type of optimization problems to solve because some of the functions are non-smooth or even discontinuous, and therefore it's difficult to determine the direction in which a function is increasing or decreasing. For more information, please see this page .

This is how you can use Solver in Excel to find the best solutions for your decision problems. At the end of this post, you can download the sample workbook with all the examples discussed in this tutorial and reverse-engineer them for better understanding. I thank you for reading and hope to see you on our blog next week.

Practice workbook for download

You may also be interested in.

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Table of contents

15 Excel Formulas That Will Help You Solve Real Life Problems

Excel isn't only for business. Here are several Microsoft Excel formulas that will help you solve complex daily problems.

A lot of people view Microsoft Excel as a tool that's only useful in business. Truth is, there are a lot of ways it can benefit you at home as well. The key to finding uses of Excel in daily life is picking the right formulas that solve problems.

Whether you're shopping for a new car loan, want to figure out which mutual fund investment is best for you, or if you're just trying to make sense out of your bank account, Excel is a powerful tool that can help.

We picked out 15 formulas that are simple, powerful, and help you solve complex issues.

Financial Formulas

Shopping for a new home and confused by all the mortgage lingo? Looking for a new car and getting confused by the car loan terms the salesperson keeps throwing at you?

Have no fear. Before you take out a loan, do your research with Excel by your side!

1. PMT---Payment

Whenever you're comparing any loan terms and want to quickly figure out your actual monthly payment given different variations in terms, take advantage of the powerful (and simple) PMT formula.

Here's what you need to use this formula:

• The interest rate of the loan
• The term of the loan (how many payments?)
• The starting principle of the loan
• Future value, if for some reason the loan will be considered paid off before it reaches zero (optional)
• Type of loan---0 if payments due at the end of each month, or 1 if they're due at the beginning (optional)

Here's a cool way to quickly compare a variety of loans to see what your payments will look like. Create an Excel sheet that lists every potential loan and all available information about them. Then, create a "Payments" column and use the PMT formula.

Just grab the lower right corner of the PMT cell you just created, and drag it down so it calculates the payment total for all the loan terms listed in the sheet. The Excel autofill feature is one feature you will use a lot with these tricks.

Now you can compare monthly payments for different kinds of loans.

(A very big thank you to Mark Jones (@redtexture on Twitter) who pointed out that for PMT and FV formulas, you've got to be very careful about using the same period---in this case using monthly payments requires dividing the interest term by 12 months)

This is why our readers are so great. Thanks for helping with this fix Mark!

2. FV---Future Value

The next formula comes in handy when you are looking to invest some money into something like a Certificate of Deposit (CD), and you want to know what it will be worth at the end of the term.

Here's what you need to know to use the FV formula :

• Number of payments (or investment term in months)
• The payment for each period (usually monthly)
• Current starting balance (optional)

So let's compare several CDs using the terms that you know from the information the banks have given you. In the example below, let's say you have a $20,000 inheritance to invest in a CD.

Interest rates are again represented in decimal format (take the interest rate the bank gave you and divide by 100). Payments are zero because CD's are typically based on a starting value and a future value paid out.  Here's what the comparison looks like when you use the FV formula for every CD you're considering.

Without a doubt, the higher interest CD over a longer period of time pays out much more. The only drawback is that you can't touch any of your money for three whole years, but that's the nature of investing!

3-4. Logical Formulas---IF and AND

Most banks these days give you the ability to download nearly a year's worth of bank transactions to a format like CSV. This is a perfect format to analyze your spending using Excel, but sometimes the data you receive from banks is very disorganized.

Using logical formulas are a great way to spot overspending.

Ideally, the bank either automatically categorizes your spending or you've set up your account so that things are placed into spending categories. For example, any restaurants we go to get labeled with the DiningOut label.

This makes it easy to use a logical formula to identify whenever we've gone out to eat and spent over $20.

To do this, just create a logical formula in a new column looking for any value where the category column is "DiningOut" and the transaction column is larger than -$20

Note: The comparison below shows "<", less than, because the values in column C are all negative.

Here's what that looks like:

Using IF and AND together in one formula looks tricky, but it's actually quite simple. The IF statement will output the dollar amount (C2) if the AND statement is true, or FALSE if it isn't. The AND statement checks whether the category is "DiningOut" and the transaction is greater than $20.

There you have it! Without having to manually sift through all those transactions, you now know exactly those times when you've overspent in a certain category.

Making Sense of Lists

Lists are a big part of everyday life. If you're managing a household, you're using lists constantly. Excel has some pretty powerful tools for being productive with checklists , as well as other kinds of list formats.

5-6. COUNT and COUNTIF

Excel can help you quickly organize and sort values is a list.  Let's take the PTC example. Here's a list of donations from community members.

We want to see how many times a person's name shows up on the list. To do this, you can combine the COUNT formula with an IF formula. First, create a column to check if the person is Michelle or not. The formula will use an IF statement to fill the cell with a "1" if this is true.

Next, create another column that counts how many times you've found Michelle Johnson on the list.

This gives you the count of every place in Column E where there's a 1 rather than a blank.

So, this is the simplest way to do this kind of thing, but it does require two steps.

6-8. SUMIF, COUNTIF, AVERAGEIF

If you don't mind using a slightly more advanced formula, you might consider using one of the many combined "IF" formulas like SUMIF , COUNTIF , or AVERAGEIF . These allow you to perform the formula (COUNT, SUM or AVERAGE) if the logical condition is true. Here's how it works using the above example.

This formula looks at column A, which contains all the donor names, and if the cell within the range matches the criteria in quotes, then it counts up by one. This gives you a count of all the times the donor name equals "Michelle Johnson" in a single step.

It's much faster than using two columns, but is a little complex - so use the approach that works best for your situation.

The  SUMIF  and  AVERAGEIF  formulas work the very same way, just with different mathematical results. Using  SUMIF  in this example would give you the total donation dollars for Michelle Johnson if you use it instead.

Another formula that you can use creatively sometimes is the LEN formula. This formula is one of many Excel text formulas that tells you how many characters are in a string of text.

One interesting way to use this in the example above would be to highlight donors who donated over $1,000 by counting the number of digits in the donation column. If the length of the number is 4 or greater, then they donated at least $1,000.

Now you can add additional formatting to make it easier on the eyes.

To do this, you need to highlight all the cells in the Donation column, select the Home tab in the menu, and click on Conditional Formatting  in the toolbar. Then select Use a formula to determine which cells to format .

Set the range under Format values where this formula is true: to the column/range where all your LEN formula outputs are displayed.

In this example, if you make the condition ">3", then anything over $1,000 will receive the special formatting. Don't forget to click the Format... button and choose what kind of special formatting you want for these.

Also, a quick note. You'll notice my range is defined as "$E2:$E11", not "$E$2:$E$11". When you select the range, it defaults to the former, which won't work. You need to use relative addressing as shown in the picture above. Then, your conditional formatting will work based on the condition of the second range.

Organizing Bank and Financial Downloads

Sometimes, when you download information from businesses---whether it's your bank, or your health insurance company, the format of the incoming data doesn't always match what you need it to be.

For example, let's say that in the exported data from your bank and you're given the date in the standard format.

If you want to add a new column of your own with your own that's prefaced by the year and includes the Payee information (for your own sorting purposes), extracting pieces of information from a column is really easy.

10-14. RIGHT, LEFT, TEXT, and CONCATENATE

You can pull the year out of the text in that column using the RIGHT formula.

The formula above is telling Excel to take the text in column D and extract the four characters from the right side. The CONCATENATE formula pieces together those four digits, with the Payee text from column E.

Keep in mind that if you do want to extract text from a date, you will need to convert it to text format (instead of date) using the "= TEXT (D2,"mm/dd/yyyy")" formula. Then you can use the RIGHT formula to pull out the year.

What if your information is on the left? Well, instead use the  LEFT  formula and you can pull text from left to right.

CONCATENATE really comes in handy when you have some text from a bunch of different columns that you want to piece together into one long string. You can find out more in our guide on how to combine Excel columns .

There are also a few ways to separate text in Excel if you want to want to learn how to fully manipulate strings.

Picking Random Names from a Hat

15. randbetween.

One last fun formula is one you may use if you have to do something like pick some names out of a hat for a Christmas party. Put that hat and those scraps of paper away and instead pull out your laptop and launch Excel!

Using the formula RANDBETWEEN, you can have Excel randomly select a number between a range of numbers you specify.

The two values you need to use are the lowest and highest numbers, which should be at the ends of the range of numbers you've applied to each person's name.

Once you hit the Enter key, the formula will randomly select one of the numbers within the range.

It's about as random and tamper-proof as you can possibly get. So instead of picking a number from a hat, pick a number from Excel instead!

Using Excel for Everyday Problems

As you can see, Excel isn't just for data-analysis gurus and business professionals. Anyone can benefit from the many formulas that you'll find tucked away in Excel . Learn these formulas and you can start solving real-life problems in Excel.

Don't stop learning Excel. There is a long list of Excel formulas and functions that you can learn to use, you might find some neat little tricks you never thought Excel could do.

Image credit:  Goodluz via Shutterstock.com

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Excel Formulas  - Solving Real-Life Problems in Excel

Excel formulas  -, solving real-life problems in excel, excel formulas solving real-life problems in excel.

Excel Formulas: Solving Real-Life Problems in Excel

Lesson 6: solving real-life problems in excel.

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Solving real-life problems in Excel

Excel can be used to solve all kinds of real-life problems. But how do you turn those problems into formulas that Excel can understand? All it takes is a little bit of planning (and some basic math). To learn more, check out the video below!

/en/excelformulas/doublecheck-your-formulas/content/

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How to Use Solver in Microsoft Excel

Last Updated: July 28, 2022 Tested

Enabling Solver

Analyzing and solving.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd . Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 618,076 times. Learn more...

This wikiHow teaches you how to use Microsoft Excel's Solver tool, which allows you to alter different variables in a spreadsheet in order to achieve a desired solution. You can use Solver in both Windows and Mac versions of Excel, though you'll have to enable Solver before you can begin using it.

• Solver comes pre-installed with both Windows and Mac versions of Excel, but you'll have to enable it manually.

• If you have an existing Excel file you'd like to use Solver with, you can open it instead of creating a new file.

• On a Mac, click Tools instead, then skip the next step.

• On a Mac, click Excel Add-ins in the Tools menu.

• On a Mac, this window will open after clicking Excel Add-ins in the Tools menu.

• For example, you might create a spreadsheet documenting your various expenses over the course of a month with the output cell resulting in your money left over.
• You can't use solver on a spreadsheet which doesn't have solvable data (i.e., your data has to have equations).

• For example, if you're creating a budget where the end goal is your monthly income, you would click the final "Income" cell.

• For example, if your goal is to have $200 at the end of the month, you would type 200 into the text box.
• You can also check either the "Max" or "Min" box in order to prompt Solver to determine the absolute maximum or minimum value.
• Once you've set a goal, Solver will attempt to meet that goal by adjusting other variables in your spreadsheet.

• Click the cell (or select the cells) for which the constraint applies.
• Select a type of constraint from the middle drop-down menu.
• Enter the constraint's number (e.g., a maximum or minimum).

• If you do like your Solver's results, you can apply them to your spreadsheet by checking the "Keep Solver Solution" box and then clicking OK .

Expert Q&A

• Solver is best used for problems such as scheduling employees, determining the lowest price for which you can sell items while meeting a financial goal, and budgeting. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

• Solver cannot be used in spreadsheets in which there is no "output" or actual solution. For example, you can't apply solver to a spreadsheet which has no equations. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Load-the-Solver-Add-in-in-Excel-612926fc-d53b-46b4-872c-e24772f078ca#OfficeVersion=Windows
• ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRm5MEoA3OI

About This Article

1. Enable Solver in the "Add-ins" section of your Excel preferences if necessary. 2. Open a spreadsheet with data you want to analyze. 3. Click Data , then click Solver . 4. Select a cell to use from the "Set Objective" field. 5. Check the "Value Of" box, then enter a desired value. 6. Click Solve . Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Practice And Learn Excel Online For Free

Welcome to Excel Practice Online!

Now you can practice Excel everywhere! You can even practice on your mobile phone!

Every function and tool has an explanation followed by an online excel exercise which can be solved within the page itself, no need to download anything – All thanks to the amazing powers of Excel Online!

The tutorials are sorted from beginner level to advanced level. If you like this site please share it with your friends! 🙂

Tip for mobile phone users – tap twice on the cell you want to edit in order to edit it.

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Formulas/Functions

• SUM function – Sum multiple values in Excel
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• MIN – find the minimum value in a range
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• COUNTA – Count numeric and textual values
• AVERAGE – Calculate average of a range
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• Remove Duplicates – Remove duplicate values in a single column or multiple columns!

Intermediate

Conditional.

• IF function – check if a condition is met
• NESTED IF – Multiple if conditions
• Conditional Formatting – Format Excel Cells based on criteria
• COUNTIF – Count cells in range which meet a certain criteria
• SUMIF – Sum range based on criteria
• AVERAGEIF – Calculate the average of a range based on criteria
• SUMIFS – Sum cells using multiple criteria
• COUNTIFS – Count cells using multiple criteria
• MAXIFS – Find maximum value in a range based on criteria
• MINIFS – Find minimum value in a range based on criteria
• AND/OR – Check if multiple criteria are met (Works great when combined with an IF function!)
• ISBLANK – Check if a cell is blank or not
• VLOOKUP – lookup value and return corresponding value from a table
• HLOOKUP – lookup value and return corresponding value from a table
• Hot!!! XLOOKUP – Excel’s next generation lookup function which combines the best features from VLOOKUP, INDEX MATCH, HLOOKUP and IFERROR/IFNA

Pivot tables

• Pivot Table – Quickly Analyze and Summarize your data using Excel’s most powerful tool!

Text Formulas

• LEFT, MID, RIGHT – Basic Text Functions
• HOT! – TEXTBEFORE & TEXTAFTER – Extract text before or after a delimiter using Excel’s brand new powerful functions!
• HOT! – TEXTSPLIT – Split your text into multiple cells using this super powerful new function!
• TEXTJOIN – Easily combine multiple cells using delimiter
• CONCAT – Combine range of cells without delimiter
• CONCATENATE – Combine two cells or more into one cell
• LEN – Find the length of a cell
• FIND – Find the position of a text within another text (Case-sensitive)
• SEARCH – Find the position of a text within another text (Case-insensitive)
• SUBSTITUTE – Replace text with another text in a cell/expression
• TRIM – Remove extra spaces from the text
• LOWER, UPPER, PROPER – Convert text to lowercase, uppercase and proper case
• VALUE – Convert data stored as text into values
• TEXT – Convert and format numbers into text
• Text to Columns – Quickly split a column into multiple columns using a delimiter. Bonus – Quickly change date formats or convert text to numbers!
• FORMULATEXT – display a formula in another cell as text

Date functions

• DAY, MONTH, YEAR – Extract day, month and year from a date in Excel
• DATE – Create a date from individual values
• WEEKDAY – Return the number of the day of the week
• EOMONTH – Return the date of the last day of the month based on a specific date

Index & Match lookup

• INDEX – Retrieve cell in nth position in a range
• MATCH – Find position of value in a range
• INDEX MATCH – Just like VLOOKUP, only better.

Other advanced tools

• SUMPRODUCT – Sum the products of Excel ranges
• Excel Wildcards – Advanced searching and matching in Excel
• Advanced Filter – Filter by multiple criteria in the same column, or even in different columns!

Power Query

• Combine data from multiple Excel workbooks using Power Query
• Column from Examples tool – Learn the secret to mastering Power Query without any prior knowledge!
• Unpivot columns easily using Power Query

Secret Excel Functions

This section covers Excel functions that are not available in most of Excel’s versions. These functions will unlock a new set of capabilities such as fining only unique values, sorting, and filtering – the tutorials below will help you with mastering Excel’s new functions!

• UNIQUE – Extract unique values from a range
• SORT Function – Sort range dynamically
• SORTBY – Sort range dynamically by using another range
• FILTER Function – Filter range by specific criteria
• RANDARRAY – Create an array of random numbers 
• SEQUENCE – Create a range of sequential values
• LET – Assign values and calculations to names to improve your formula’s ease of use, readability, and performance!
• HOT! – LAMBDA – The mother of all functions that will help you create amazing and powerful custom functions for your own need! 
• VSTACK – Vertically stack arrays/ranges in Excel
• HSTACK – Horizontally stack arrays/ranges in Excel
• CHOOSEROWS – Return specific rows from a range or array
• CHOOSECOLS – Return specific columns from a range or array
• TOROW – Convert a range/array into a single row
• TOCOL – Convert a range/array into a single column

Financial Functions

Learn how to use Excel to make financial calculations!

• Excel Financial Calculator – quickly calculate PV, FV, PMT, NPV, IRR
• PMT – Calculate the periodic payment amount of a loan, mortgage, or another financial instrument
• PPMT & IPMT – Find the Principal and Interest portion of a certain payment
• PV – Find the Present Value of a loan, mortgage, or any other financial instrument 

Excel Macros – VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)

• Start here – How to run your first VBA Macro in Excel without knowing VBA? 

Excel Data Sheets for Practice

Want to do some freestyle practice? Create your own Excel playground with our blank excel Worksheet!

• Excel-Online Blank Worksheet
• Excel Practice Data

How to Calculate in Excel – Excel-Online Calculators

• How to Calculate GPA in Excel
• How to Calculate BMI in Excel
• How to Calculate Density in Excel
• How to Calculate Weighted Average in Excel

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Solver in Excel: Learning to understand and apply it

Key information

The tool SOLVE Excel allows us to obtain the optimal solution for different decision problems, taking into account a performance measure (objective function), parameters, decision variables and restrictions.

• Utility : solver It allows us to facilitate the making of decisions that we may face. An example is shopping for the supermarket, we want to spend the minimum on it considering that there are certain things that cannot be left aside. What elements to choose? How to make this decision that includes multiple considerations? Solver allows you to solve this problem using the data that we enter in Excel.
• Objective function: Measure of decision performance. It is what measures how well we are doing given what we want to achieve.
• Parameters: Numbers that do not depend on the decisions we make
• Variables: Numbers that correspond to the decisions we make, or that will be affected by them.
• Restrictions: Possible limitations that my decision presents.

Activating Solver in Excel

The first step when trying to use the Solver tool in Excel is to make sure we have it activated, since it is not in our tools by default. For this we do the following:

Step 1: We click on the “File” option in the main Excel bar:

Step 2: In the left sidebar we click on “Options”.

Step 5: A new window will open, in which we must make sure that the “Solver” option has a ticket in the box to its left:

Step 6: In the same window (“Available add-ons”) we click accept:

Step 7: If we carried out all these steps correctly, the SOLVER tool should have appeared in the “Data” tab of the main Excel bar, in the “Analysis” section:

Defining the problem in Excel to optimize with Solver

Having activated the Excel Solver tool, all that remains is to learn how to apply it. The first thing to define is what our function is to optimize, which would correspond to the result of our decisions. In the following example we have a company that sells cars:

The decision problem that the company faces in this case is to obtain the greatest possible profit, so in addition to having the profit for each type of car, it is necessary to see how much we are going to produce.

We can see in the image that the company offers three types of cars: sedan, truck and sports car. Each of these types has a production cost and a market sale price, with which we can calculate the profit when selling each one:

These values correspond to the parameters of our problem in Excel, that is, numbers that for the purposes of our calculations will remain fixed, since in this scenario they do not depend on the decisions we make. 

Let's assume that in this case the only decision our company faces is how much to produce of each type of car:

To SOLVE these will be our only problem variables, that is, the only thing that can change to optimize our function.

Ninja Tip: The boxes that contain the variables can be blank or contain a number, but never contain an Excel function, since in that case they cannot be adjusted.

Already having what we earn per unit and the units that we are going to produce, we can create a function that tells the total profit that we are going to have. To simplify this process we will use the function SUMPRODUCT :

For now the result that Excel will return will be 0, because we are not producing any units, however, this will be adjusted when we enter the problem in Solver:

Ninja Tip: You can ensure that the function is correctly entered by putting numbers to the variables and seeing that the changes in the result of the function to be optimized are correct.

This result is going to measure how well our company is doing, so we would like to optimize it, which in this case is to make the profit as large as possible. This means that we want maximize the function.

Given how our decision problem is currently defined, our function has no maximum, since, for example, it could put in a million pickup trucks and there is nothing to prevent it. This is where our constraints matter, as they simulate the different barriers we have in our production.

In the case of our car company, let's assume that there are two restrictions: that we have a budget of $5,000 to spend on production and that we can keep a maximum of 30 cars in our warehouse, so we are unable to produce more:

We can see that the right column of the “Restrictions” table shows the maximum resources of each type that we have, given by the parameters $5,000 and 30. Now we need to see the resources that we are currently using.

For the “Budget” constraint we use the SUMPRODUCT function to see how much we are currently spending:

For the storage restriction we use the SUM function to obtain the total number of units produced:

Now we are ready to pass our problem to the Solver tool.

Transferring our decision problem to Solver

 Step 1: To transfer our problem from Excel to Solver we must first open the tool. As we already mentioned, this is located in the “Data” tab of the main Excel bar, in the “Analysis” section. By clicking on the button the following window will open:

Step 2: The next thing is to indicate our objective, which corresponds to the function we want to optimize. In this case it corresponds to the total utility, so we press the arrow button and indicate to Solver the box C9, which is where our function is located:

Step 3: Now we must make sure that the “To” option has what we are looking for selected. Here we can tell Solver to maximize the function, minimize it, or make it take a certain value. Since we are looking to maximize utility, we make sure the option reads “Max”:

Step 4: The next step is to tell Solver the decision variables. In this case my variables are how much I produce of each type of car, so I indicate to Solver the range G4:G6:

Tip Ninja : When selecting variables I can hold down the “Ctrl” key to select ranges of variables that are separate. I can also write the ranges using a “;” to indicate that they are separated.

Step 5: It is now time to introduce the restrictions of our problem to Solver. To do this, press the button that says “Add”, which is located to the right of the “Subject to restrictions” box:

Step 6: Pressing the “Add” button will open a new window called “Add restriction”. In this window we have three elements: a reference to the cell that contains the resources we are currently using, the relationship that cell has with the constraint and a reference to the cell that contains the parameter of our constraint:

Step 7: The first constraint we will introduce into Solver is our limited budget. In this case, cell C12 will go to the left, since it corresponds to the cell that contains the SUMPRODUCT function that describes the resources we are using:

Then on the right we place cell E12, which is the one that contains the parameter $5,000, our maximum budget. Finally we make sure that the relationship between the variables is correct, in this case it is less than or equal:

Step 8: Having the constraint ready, we press the “Add” button to enter it in Solver, which will empty the boxes to allow us to enter another constraint:

Step 9: Now we do the same with the second restriction, indicating in the right box cell C13, which contains the total number of units produced, and in the left box E13, which contains the maximum that I can store:

Step 10: There are no more restrictions to enter so we click accept, which takes us to the main Solver window:

If the constraints were entered correctly in Solver, they should appear in the white square under “Subject to constraints”:

Step 11: Since our variables cannot be negative, we need to make sure the option in Solver is checked:

Step 12: Now we can run Solver, so we press the “Solve” button:

Now returning to the Excel workbook, we see that Solver assigned numbers to our variables, which gives us an optimal result. However, we have a problem because Solver does not know that the variables are autos, so it gives us numbers in decimal:

To solve this we return to the Solver window and add a new constraint, indicating the range where our variables are located and the “int” relationship (the word integer will appear automatically):

This restricts variables, which are in the range G4:G6, to be integers.

Our optimum is now given by integers:

Ninja Tip: The Solver tool does not update automatically like a traditional Excel function, so every time we make changes to constraints or parameters we must run it again to obtain a new optimum.​

Frequent questions

Use Solver to find an optimal value (minimum or maximum) for a formula in a cell, the target cell, that is subject to constraints or limitations on the values of other formula cells in a worksheet. Solver works with a group of cells called decision variable cells, or simply variable cells that are used to calculate formulas in the target and constraint cells.

The Solver add-in is a Microsoft Office Excel add-in program that is available when you install Microsoft Office or Excel.

Christopher Diaz

Commercial engineer and Master in Finance from the Pontifical Catholic University. Special interest in topics related to corporate finance, private equity and real estate investment.

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Problem Solving with Excel

This course is part of Data Analysis and Presentation Skills: the PwC Approach Specialization

Taught in English

Some content may not be translated

Instructor: Alex Mannella

Financial aid available

140,515 already enrolled

(5,265 reviews)

Skills you'll gain

• Data Analysis
• Microsoft Excel
• Pivot Table
• Data Cleansing

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There are 4 modules in this course

This course explores Excel as a tool for solving business problems. In this course you will learn the basic functions of excel through guided demonstration. Each week you will build on your excel skills and be provided an opportunity to practice what you’ve learned. Finally, you will have a chance to put your knowledge to work in a final project. Please note, the content in this course was developed using a Windows version of Excel 2013.

This course was created by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with an address at 300 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10017.

Overview of Excel

In this module, you will learn the basics of Excel navigation and Excel basic functionality. You will learn how to navigate the basic Excel screen including using formulas, subtotals and text formatting. We will provide you an opportunity to perform a problem solving exercise using basic Excel skills. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

What's included

13 videos 10 readings 4 quizzes 1 discussion prompt

13 videos • Total 60 minutes

• Welcome to Problem Solving with Excel • 4 minutes • Preview module
• Tao of Excel • 6 minutes
• Week 1 Welcome • 2 minutes
• Excel Basics and Navigation Part 1 • 5 minutes
• Excel Basics and Navigation Part 2 • 6 minutes
• A Message from our Chief People Officer at PwC • 0 minutes
• Paste Special - Part 1 • 6 minutes
• Paste Special - Part 2 • 2 minutes
• Cell Locking - Part 1 • 6 minutes
• Cell Locking - Part 2 • 2 minutes
• Named Ranges • 6 minutes
• Subtotal - Part 1 • 7 minutes
• Subtotal - Part 2 • 2 minutes

10 readings • Total 170 minutes

• Course Overview and Syllabus • 10 minutes
• Meet the PwC Content Developers • 10 minutes
• Guiding Principles for Using Excel • 30 minutes
• Excel Basics Workbook • 10 minutes
• Excel Basics and Navigation Handout • 10 minutes
• Basic Functionality Workbook • 25 minutes
• Basic Functionality Handout • 10 minutes
• Subtotal Excel Workbook • 25 minutes
• Subtotal Handout • 10 minutes
• Week 1 Project • 30 minutes

4 quizzes • Total 95 minutes

• Excel Basics and Navigation Quiz • 30 minutes
• Basic Functionality Quiz • 30 minutes
• Subtotal Quiz • 30 minutes
• Week 1 project quiz • 5 minutes

1 discussion prompt • Total 10 minutes

• Meet Your Classmates • 10 minutes

vLookups and Data Cleansing

In this module you will learn about VLookup, value cleansing and text functions. We will also introduce you to PwC's perspective on the value in cleansing data and using the appropriate functions. Finally, we will provide you an opportunity to perform a problem solving exercise using VLookup, value cleansing and text function. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

16 videos 8 readings 4 quizzes

16 videos • Total 50 minutes

• Welcome to Week 2 • 1 minute • Preview module
• VLookup • 6 minutes
• Use VLOOKUP, data validation and multiple VLOOKUPs together • 2 minutes
• HLOOKUP • 2 minutes
• Nesting • 5 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Values - CLEAN- 1a • 2 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Values - CLEAN -1b • 2 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Values - TRIM • 1 minute
• Data Cleansing: Values - SUBSTITUTE -3a • 2 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Values - SUBSTITUTE - 3b • 1 minute
• Data Cleansing: Values - STORED AS TEXT • 2 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Values - De-DUPLICATING • 1 minute
• Data Cleansing: Text Functions • 4 minutes
• Text - LEN & FIND • 3 minutes
• Text - CONCATENATE • 3 minutes
• Text - Data Validation • 5 minutes

8 readings • Total 160 minutes

• VLookup Workbook • 30 minutes
• VLookup Handout • 10 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Values Workbook • 30 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Values Handout • 10 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Text Workbook • 30 minutes
• Data Cleansing: Text Handout • 10 minutes
• Hints for Week 2 Project • 5 minutes
• Week 2 Project • 35 minutes
• VLookup • 30 minutes
• Data Cleansing - Values Quiz • 30 minutes
• Data Cleanse - Text Quiz • 30 minutes
• Week 2 Quiz • 5 minutes

Logical Functions & Pivot Tables

In this module, you will learn about logical functions and pivot tables. We will show you how to create and use pivot tables to solve business problems. We will give you an opportunity to practice creating and using a pivot table to solve a business problem. Finally, we will share some insight on PwC’s perspectives on the impact of Excel on your career and work. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

17 videos 5 readings 3 quizzes 1 discussion prompt

17 videos • Total 68 minutes

• Welcome to Week 3 • 2 minutes • Preview module
• Logical Functions: Introduction • 5 minutes
• Logical Functions - COUNTIFS • 7 minutes
• Logical Functions - COUNTIFS Part 2 • 2 minutes
• Logical Functions - SUMIFS • 3 minutes
• Logical Functions - SUMIFS Part 2 • 5 minutes
• Logical Functions - IF + THEN • 1 minute
• Logical Functions - IF + AND • 2 minutes
• Logical Functions - IF + OR • 2 minutes
• Logical Functions - Nesting • 3 minutes
• Bringing Value with Excel • 4 minutes
• Pivot Tables • 4 minutes
• Navigate a Pivot Table • 7 minutes
• Sort a Pivot Table • 3 minutes
• Advanced Filtering • 5 minutes
• Calculated Fields • 3 minutes
• Slicers • 2 minutes

5 readings • Total 80 minutes

• Logical Functions Workbook • 10 minutes
• Logical Functions Handout • 10 minutes
• Pivot Tables Workbook • 40 minutes
• Pivot Tables Handout • 10 minutes
• Week 3 Project • 10 minutes

3 quizzes • Total 90 minutes

• Logical Functions Quiz • 30 minutes
• Pivot Tables Quiz • 30 minutes
• Week 3 Project Quiz • 30 minutes
• How will you bring value by using Excel? • 10 minutes

More Advanced Formulas

In this module you will learn more advanced Excel formulas. We will show you how to create statistical formulas, perform an index match, and lastly, build financial formulas. We will provide you with an opportunity to problem solve using statistical formulas. Finally, we will give you an opportunity to practice what you have learned through a final project. Note: We recommend viewing videos in full-screen mode by clicking the double arrow in the lower right hand corner of your screen.

12 videos 8 readings 4 quizzes

12 videos • Total 63 minutes

• Welcome to Week 4 • 2 minutes • Preview module
• Intro to Statistical Forecasting • 9 minutes
• Statistical Forecasting - Part 1 • 16 minutes
• Statistical Forecasting - Part 2 • 7 minutes
• Index Match • 2 minutes
• Index Match: MATCH Formula • 2 minutes
• x and y Variables • 3 minutes
• 2 Variable Lookup • 6 minutes
• Financial Function - NPV and IRR • 6 minutes
• Financial Function - Calculating Payment Schedule • 2 minutes
• Financial Function - Calculating Payment Period • 1 minute
• Course Wrap-up • 2 minutes

8 readings • Total 170 minutes

• Statistical Forecasting Workbook • 30 minutes
• Statistical Forecasting Handout • 10 minutes
• Index Match Workbook • 30 minutes
• Index Match Handout • 10 minutes
• Financial Function Workbook • 30 minutes
• Financial Function Handout • 10 minutes
• Week 4 Project • 40 minutes
• Learn more about PwC and our career opportunities • 10 minutes

4 quizzes • Total 100 minutes

• Statistical Forecasting Quiz • 30 minutes
• Index Match Quiz • 30 minutes
• Financial Functions • 30 minutes
• Week 4 Project Quiz • 10 minutes

Instructor ratings

We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.

With offices in 157 countries and more than 208,000 people, PwC is among the leading professional services networks in the world. Our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. We help organisations and individuals create the value they’re looking for, by delivering quality in assurance, tax and advisory services.

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5,265 reviews

Reviewed on May 7, 2020

This course was really informative and motivated the learner to practice everything practically. There was some audio problem in some of the lectures though which could be improved.

Reviewed on Jan 3, 2017

It's a great course with clear instructions and insightful practices. I learnt useful functionalities and tools that could be used in my future career as an accounting professional.

Reviewed on Oct 6, 2017

Helpful in learning Excel basics. The projects might be too advanced from what you are practicing, but they provide the answers so you can see how they calculated their answers.

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Frequently asked questions

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Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

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Solving for Unknown Variables in Excel Formulas: A Step-by-Step Guide

Did you know that Excel, the popular spreadsheet software, is capable of solving for unknown variables in formulas? Whether you’re a data analyst, a business owner, or a student, being able to find the values of unknown variables can greatly enhance your decision-making process and optimize your data analysis. Excel offers powerful features like Goal Seek and the Solver add-in that can help you solve complex equations and formulas with ease.

So, if you’re ready to take your Excel skills to the next level and unlock the full potential of this software, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of solving for unknown variables in Excel formulas. From using Goal Seek to solve for single unknowns to harnessing the power of Solver for multiple variable equations, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to tackle any problem.

Key Takeaways:

• Excel offers features like Goal Seek and the Solver add-in to solve for unknown variables in formulas.
• Goal Seek is great for finding the value of a single unknown variable.
• Solver is more powerful and can handle complex equations with multiple unknown variables.
• Using Solver involves defining the objective cell, specifying the variable cells, and setting constraints.
• Excel also provides common formulas and functions that can be used to calculate unknown variables.

Using Goal Seek in Excel

Goal Seek is a powerful feature in Excel that allows you to solve for unknown variables in a single cell. It is particularly useful when you have a specific goal value in mind and need to determine the value of a cell that will achieve that goal.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use Goal Seek in Excel :

• Open your Excel workbook and navigate to the worksheet where you want to perform the goal seek analysis.
• Select the cell that contains the formula you want to work with. This will be your target cell, whose value you want to change to achieve the desired goal.
• Click on the “Data” tab in the Excel ribbon, and then click on “What-If Analysis” .
• From the drop-down menu, select “Goal Seek” .
• A “Goal Seek” dialog box will appear. In the “Set Cell” field, enter the reference of the target cell you selected in step 2.
• In the “To Value” field, enter the goal value you want to achieve with the formula.
• In the “By Changing Cell” field, enter the reference of the cell that contains the unknown variable you want to solve for.
• Click “OK” to execute the Goal Seek analysis.

Excel will perform the calculations and determine the value needed for the unknown variable in order to achieve your desired goal. The result will be displayed in the target cell, which you selected in step 2.

Here’s an example to illustrate the use of Goal Seek in Excel :

Let’s say you want to determine the quantity of Product 2 needed to achieve a total revenue of $1500.

To do this, you can use Goal Seek to change the quantity value until the total revenue reaches $1500. Once the goal is achieved, Excel will display the corresponding quantity value in the target cell.

By following the steps outlined above, you can effectively utilize Goal Seek in Excel to solve for unknown variables and optimize your data analysis and decision-making processes.

Introducing Excel’s Solver

Excel’s Solver add-in is a powerful tool that enables users to solve for multiple unknown variables simultaneously. This feature proves particularly useful when dealing with complex equations and problems in Excel.

By leveraging Excel’s Solver, you can optimize your data analysis and decision-making processes, providing more accurate and efficient solutions.

What Does Excel’s Solver Do?

Excel’s Solver add-in is designed to find the optimal solution for a given problem by manipulating a set of input variables. It does this by calculating the values of these variables that will result in the desired outcome specified in the objective cell.

The Solver add-in can handle various types of problems, such as optimization, linear programming, and nonlinear equations. It uses advanced algorithms to search for the best possible solution within certain constraints.

How to Load the Solver Add-in

To use Excel’s Solver, you need to make sure it is activated and loaded in your Excel application. Here’s how you can do that:

• Open Excel and navigate to the File tab.
• Select Options from the menu.
• In the Excel Options window, click on Add-Ins in the left-hand navigation pane.
• Under Manage , select Excel Add-ins and click on Go .
• In the Add-Ins window, check the box next to Solver Add-in and click OK .

Once the Solver add-in is loaded, you can access it from the Data tab in the Excel ribbon.

How to Use Excel’s Solver

Using Excel’s Solver to solve for unknown variables involves several steps, including defining the objective cell, specifying the variable cells, and setting constraints. Here is a high-level overview of the process:

• Select the cell that represents the value you want to optimize, known as the objective cell.
• Identify the cells that contain the unknown variables that Solver should adjust to achieve the desired outcome.
• Define any constraints or limitations that apply to the problem, such as minimum or maximum values for certain variables.
• Configure the Solver options, such as the solving method and precision level.
• Run the Solver to find the optimal solution.

Excel will calculate the values of the unknown variables that yield the maximum or minimum value for the objective cell while satisfying all the specified constraints.

Let’s illustrate the process with a practical example:

Suppose you have a manufacturing business and want to determine the optimal production quantities for two products to maximize your profit. You have constraints such as available resources and demand. Here’s a simplified representation:

In this example, your objective is to maximize the total profit (selling price – production cost) by adjusting the production quantities for both products.

With Excel’s Solver, you can define the objective cell as the total profit and specify the cell references for the production quantities of Product A and Product B as the variable cells. You can then set constraints based on the available resources and demand. Excel’s Solver will calculate the optimal production quantities that maximize your profit.

Excel’s Solver provides a robust and efficient solution for solving problems involving unknown variables. By utilizing this powerful tool, you can enhance your data analysis capabilities and make informed decisions based on optimized results.

Steps to Use Solver in Excel

Using Solver in Excel can help you solve for unknown variables and optimize your data analysis. The Solver tool provides a comprehensive set of parameters and options to tackle complex equations and problems. By following these steps, you can effectively utilize Solver in Excel :

• Define the objective cell: The objective cell is the cell that contains the formula you want Solver to solve for. It represents the value that needs to be optimized or achieved. You can select the objective cell by clicking on it in Excel.
• Specify the variable cells: Variable cells are the cells that contain the unknown variables in your equation. These are the cells that Solver will adjust to find the optimal solution. You can select the variable cells by clicking on them in Excel.
• Set constraints: Constraints are conditions or limitations that the solution must adhere to. You can add constraints to restrict the possible values of the variable cells or to impose specific requirements. Excel provides various types of constraints, such as equality constraints, inequality constraints, and integer constraints.

Once you have defined the objective cell, specified the variable cells, and set the constraints, you can proceed to run Solver and find the optimal solution. Solver will iterate through different values for the variable cells until it finds a solution that satisfies the constraints and optimizes the objective cell. After Solver completes the calculations, it will display the solution in the variable cells.

It’s important to note that Solver also offers advanced options and additional settings that you can use to fine-tune the solving process. These options allow you to customize Solver’s behavior, choose the solving method, control precision and iteration limits, and more. Exploring these advanced options can help you achieve more accurate and efficient solutions.

By following these steps and leveraging the power of Solver in Excel , you can solve complex equations, optimize your models, and gain valuable insights from your data.

Let’s consider a practical example to illustrate the use of Solver in Excel. Suppose you are managing a production line and need to determine the optimal production quantities for different products. By using Solver, you can maximize the total profit while considering constraints such as resource availability and market demand.

Here is a hypothetical table representing the production quantities and associated profits for three different products:

In this example, the production quantities for each product are the variable cells that Solver will adjust. By maximizing the objective of total profit, Solver will determine the optimal production quantities for each product, considering the profit per unit and any constraints you set.

Using Solver, you can easily find the optimal solution that maximizes your profit and meets your production requirements. This demonstrates the versatility and power of Excel’s Solver in solving real-world business problems.

Common Formulas and Functions in Excel

Excel provides a wide range of formulas and functions that can be utilized to calculate unknown variables and optimize your data analysis. Understanding these common formulas and functions is essential for effectively solving for unknown variables in Excel.

1. SUM Function

The SUM function is used to add up a range of cells and calculate the total. It can be particularly helpful when dealing with numerical data, such as sales figures or expenses. To use the SUM function, simply input the range of cells you want to add within the parentheses. For example, “=SUM(A1:A10)” will give you the sum of the values in cells A1 to A10.

2. AVERAGE Function

The AVERAGE function calculates the average value of a range of cells. It is commonly used to analyze data sets and determine the average value. To use the AVERAGE function, input the range of cells you want to include within the parentheses. For example, “=AVERAGE(A1:A10)” will give you the average value of the cells A1 to A10.

3. MAX and MIN Functions

The MAX and MIN functions are used to find the highest and lowest values in a range of cells, respectively. These functions are helpful when identifying the maximum or minimum values in a dataset. To use the MAX or MIN function, enter the range of cells you want to evaluate within the parentheses. For example, “=MAX(A1:A10)” will give you the highest value in the cells A1 to A10, while “=MIN(A1:A10)” will give you the lowest value.

4. IF Function

The IF function allows you to perform conditional calculations based on specific criteria. It is commonly used to make decisions or perform calculations based on certain conditions. The IF function takes three arguments: the logical test, the value if true, and the value if false. For example, “=IF(A1>5, “Yes”, “No”)” will return “Yes” if the value in cell A1 is greater than 5, and “No” otherwise.

Additional Tips and Techniques

When it comes to solving unknown variables in Excel , there are a variety of additional tips and techniques that can help you optimize your problem-solving capabilities. By employing these strategies, you can enhance your data analysis and decision-making processes. Here are some valuable insights:

1. Applying Nested Functions

One effective technique is to use nested functions in your Excel formulas. By combining multiple functions within a single formula, you can create intricate calculations that solve for unknown variables. This allows you to perform complex data analysis tasks with ease.

2. Creating Custom Formulas

While Excel provides a wide range of built-in formulas, there may be instances where you need to create custom formulas to solve for specific unknown variables. By understanding the logic behind your desired calculations, you can develop tailored formulas that cater to your unique needs.

3. Utilizing Advanced Options in Solver

If you’re using Excel’s Solver add-in to solve for multiple unknown variables simultaneously, take advantage of its advanced options. These options allow you to fine-tune Solver’s calculations to improve accuracy and efficiency. Experiment with different settings to achieve optimal results.

4. Optimizing Solver Calculations

To expedite Solver’s calculations and improve performance, consider optimizing your Excel workbook. Reduce the number of unnecessary calculations, minimize the size of your data set, and avoid linking excessive cells. By streamlining your workbook, you can enhance Solver’s speed and effectiveness.

Implementing these additional tips and techniques will empower you to solve for unknown variables more efficiently in Excel. Whether you’re tackling complex equations or conducting in-depth data analysis, these strategies will maximize your problem-solving capabilities.

Remember, the key to mastering Excel’s unknown variable solutions lies in continuous practice and exploration. Familiarize yourself with various formulas, functions, and tools, and gradually challenge yourself to tackle more intricate problems. With time and experience, you’ll become proficient in solving for unknown variables, opening up endless possibilities for data analysis and decision-making in Excel.

Excel Solver Examples

Practical applications of Excel Solver extend beyond simple calculations. This powerful tool can be utilized to solve complex puzzles and real-life optimization problems. Let’s explore two examples that demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of Excel Solver.

Example 1: Solving the “Magic Square” Puzzle

The first example showcases how Excel Solver can solve puzzles. The “magic square” is a popular puzzle where a square grid of numbers must be filled in such a way that the sum of each row, each column, and each diagonal is the same. Using Solver, you can set up a model that identifies the optimal values for each cell in the grid, ensuring the puzzle’s conditions are met.

Example 2: Optimizing a Real-Life Linear Programming Problem

The second example demonstrates how Excel Solver can be applied to a real-life optimization problem, specifically linear programming. For instance, suppose a logistics company wants to minimize transportation costs while meeting specific demand requirements. By defining the objective function, setting constraints, and specifying variable cells, Excel Solver can identify the optimal solution, maximizing efficiency and reducing costs.

These examples illustrate the practical applications of Excel Solver in diverse problem-solving scenarios. Whether you’re unraveling puzzles or tackling real-life challenges, Solver empowers you to find optimal solutions with ease.

What is Goal Seek in Excel?

How do i use goal seek in excel, what is excel’s solver add-in, how do i load and use solver in excel, what are some commonly used formulas and functions in excel to solve for unknown variables, are there any additional tips and techniques for solving unknown variables in excel, can you provide examples of practical applications of excel solver.

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.

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Excel Tutorial: How To Use Excel To Solve Equations

• Introduction To The "What If" Function In Excel
• Understanding The Basics Of The "What If" Functions
• How To Use Scenarios In "What If" Analysis
• Leveraging Data Tables For Comparative Analysis
• Implementing Goal Seek For Specific Outcome Determination
• Troubleshooting Common Issues In "What If" Analysis
• Conclusion And Best Practices In "What If" Function Usage

Introduction to Solving Equations in Excel

When it comes to solving equations, Excel is a powerful tool that can be utilized to streamline complex mathematical calculations. In this tutorial, we will explore how Excel can be used to solve equations efficiently and effectively.

Explanation of Excel's capability in solving various types of equations

Excel is commonly known for its spreadsheet capabilities, but it also has powerful mathematical functions that can be used to solve a wide range of equations. With a simple input of data and formulas, Excel can solve linear equations, quadratic equations, cubic equations, and even more complex systems of equations.

By leveraging Excel's built-in functions such as IF , AND , OR , and LOOKUP , users can create formulas that accurately solve equations with precision and speed.

Importance of utilizing Excel for mathematical solutions in professional settings

Utilizing Excel for solving equations is a valuable skill in professional settings, especially in fields such as engineering, finance, and science. The ability to efficiently solve equations not only saves time but also reduces the chances of human error that can occur during manual calculations.

Furthermore, Excel provides a platform for organizing and analyzing data, making it easier to visualize the solutions to equations and present them in a clear and concise manner.

Overview of the types of equations that can be solved using Excel

Excel can be used to solve a wide variety of equations, including:

• Linear equations - equations of the form y = mx + b
• Quadratic equations - equations of the form ax^2 + bx + c = 0
• Cubic equations - equations of the form ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d = 0
• Systems of equations - multiple equations with multiple variables that can be solved simultaneously
• Understand basic Excel functions for equations.
• Input variables and constants into cells.
• Use formulas to solve for unknowns.
• Utilize Excel's features for complex equations.
• Check and verify solutions for accuracy.

Understanding Basic Formulas in Excel

Excel is a powerful tool that can be used not only for organizing data but also for solving equations. Understanding basic formulas in Excel is essential for anyone looking to utilize its full potential. In this chapter, we will explore the basics of Excel formulas and how they can be used to solve equations.

Introduction to basic arithmetic operations and their syntax in Excel

Excel allows users to perform basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using simple formulas. The syntax for these operations is straightforward and follows the standard mathematical conventions.

• Addition: To add two or more numbers in Excel, you can use the '+' operator. For example, =A1+B1 will add the values in cells A1 and B1.
• Subtraction: Subtraction is done using the '-' operator. For instance, =A1-B1 will subtract the value in cell B1 from the value in cell A1.
• Multiplication: Multiplication is denoted by the '*' operator. To multiply two numbers, you can use a formula like =A1*B1.
• Division: Division is performed using the '/' operator. For example, =A1/B1 will divide the value in cell A1 by the value in cell B1.

Using cell references to create dynamic equations

One of the key features of Excel is the ability to use cell references in formulas, allowing for dynamic equations that update automatically when the referenced cells change. This feature is particularly useful when working with large datasets or complex equations.

For example, instead of entering specific values in a formula like =5*3, you can use cell references like =A1*B1, where cells A1 and B1 contain the values you want to multiply. If you later change the values in cells A1 or B1, the result of the formula will automatically update.

Real-world examples where basic formulas are essential

Basic formulas in Excel are essential for a wide range of real-world applications. From calculating budgets and expenses to analyzing sales data and forecasting trends, Excel formulas play a crucial role in making data-driven decisions.

For instance, a business owner might use basic formulas to calculate total revenue by summing up sales figures, or a student might use formulas to solve math equations for homework. The possibilities are endless, and mastering basic formulas in Excel is a valuable skill for anyone working with data.

Leveraging the Solver Add-in for Complex Equations

When it comes to solving complex equations in Excel, the Solver Add-in is a powerful tool that can help you find the optimal solution. In this chapter, we will explore what the Solver Add-in is, how to enable it in Excel, set it up to solve for variables in an equation, and troubleshoot common issues that may arise.

Explanation of what the Solver Add-in is and how to enable it in Excel

The Solver Add-in is a tool in Excel that allows you to find the optimal solution to a problem by changing multiple variables. It is particularly useful for solving complex equations that involve multiple variables and constraints.

To enable the Solver Add-in in Excel, follow these steps:

• Click on the File tab in Excel.
• Click on Options in the menu.
• Click on Add-Ins in the Excel Options window.
• In the Manage box, select Excel Add-ins and click Go .
• Check the box next to Solver Add-in and click OK .

Step-by-step guide on setting up Solver to solve for variables in an equation

Once you have enabled the Solver Add-in, you can set it up to solve for variables in an equation by following these steps:

• Select the cell where you want the result to appear.
• Click on the Data tab in Excel.
• Click on Solver in the Analysis group.
• In the Solver Parameters dialog box, set the Objective to the cell containing the equation you want to solve.
• Set the Variable Cells to the cells containing the variables in the equation.
• Specify any Constraints that need to be met.
• Click Solve to find the optimal solution.

Troubleshooting common issues when using Solver

While the Solver Add-in is a powerful tool, you may encounter some common issues when using it. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Incorrect Objective: Make sure the cell containing the equation is correctly set as the Objective in the Solver Parameters dialog box.
• Incorrect Variable Cells: Double-check that the cells containing the variables in the equation are correctly set as Variable Cells.
• Unmet Constraints: If your solution does not meet all constraints, review and adjust the constraints to find a feasible solution.
• Solver Not Working: If Solver is not working, try restarting Excel or reinstalling the Solver Add-in.

Utilizing Functions for Equation Solving

When it comes to solving equations using Excel, functions play a crucial role in simplifying the process and increasing efficiency. Let's explore how you can leverage Excel functions to solve equations effectively.

A Overview of Excel functions relevant to solving equations

Excel offers a wide range of functions that can be used to solve equations. Some of the most commonly used functions include:

• SUM: This function adds up a range of cells, making it useful for summing up values in an equation.
• IF: The IF function allows you to perform different actions based on a specified condition, which can be handy for solving equations with multiple scenarios.
• LOOKUP: With the LOOKUP function, you can search for a value in a range and return a corresponding value, which can be helpful in solving equations involving data lookup.

B How to nest functions within each other for complex equation solving

One of the powerful features of Excel is the ability to nest functions within each other, allowing you to create complex equations with multiple layers of calculations. To nest functions, simply enter one function as an argument within another function.

For example, you can nest the SUM function within an IF function to perform a conditional sum based on certain criteria. This nesting capability enables you to tackle intricate equations with ease.

C Practical scenarios where function-based solutions are superior

Function-based solutions in Excel excel in various practical scenarios, such as:

• Complex calculations: Functions can handle complex calculations efficiently, saving time and reducing errors in equation solving.
• Data manipulation: Functions like LOOKUP are ideal for manipulating data and solving equations that involve searching and retrieving specific values.
• Automated decision-making: The IF function allows for automated decision-making in equations, making it easier to solve equations with multiple conditions.

Array Formulas and Their Role in Equation Solving

Array formulas are a powerful feature in Excel that allow you to perform multiple calculations simultaneously. They are particularly useful when solving equations that involve multiple variables or complex calculations. In this chapter, we will explore how array formulas work and how they can be used to solve equations efficiently.

Introduction to array formulas and how they differ from regular formulas

Array formulas in Excel are formulas that can perform multiple calculations at once. Unlike regular formulas, which operate on a single cell or range of cells, array formulas can output multiple values across a range of cells. This makes them ideal for solving equations that involve multiple variables or require complex calculations.

Using array formulas to perform multiple calculations simultaneously

When using array formulas, you can input the formula into a single cell and then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to apply the formula to the entire range of cells. This allows you to perform multiple calculations simultaneously without having to input the formula into each individual cell. Array formulas can save you time and effort when solving equations that involve a large number of variables or require complex calculations.

Examples of equations that benefit significantly from array formulas

There are many types of equations that can benefit significantly from the use of array formulas. For example, systems of linear equations, simultaneous equations, and equations involving matrices are all well-suited for array formulas. By inputting the equations into a single array formula, you can quickly solve for multiple variables and obtain the results in a clear and organized manner.

Graphical Representation of Equations & Solutions

Visualizing equations and their solutions in Excel can provide a clear and concise way to understand complex mathematical relationships. By creating charts and graphs that represent equation solutions, you can easily identify patterns, trends, and relationships within your data.

The importance of visualizing equations and their solutions in Excel

Visualizing equations allows you to see the relationship between variables and how they interact with each other. This can help you identify trends, outliers, and potential errors in your data. By creating visual representations of equations, you can easily communicate your findings to others and make informed decisions based on the data.

Creating charts and graphs that represent equation solutions

Excel offers a variety of chart types that can be used to represent equation solutions, such as line charts, scatter plots, and bar graphs. These visual representations can help you identify patterns, trends, and relationships within your data that may not be apparent from looking at the raw numbers alone.

Best practices in selecting the right type of chart for your equation data

When selecting a chart type for your equation data, it's important to consider the nature of your data and the relationships you are trying to visualize. For example, if you are looking to show the relationship between two variables, a scatter plot may be the best option. On the other hand, if you are comparing different categories of data, a bar graph or pie chart may be more appropriate.

Conclusion & Best Practices in Solving Equations with Excel

After going through this tutorial on how to use Excel to solve equations, it is important to summarize the key points covered, discuss best practices for efficiency and accuracy, and encourage continual learning and experimentation with Excel for problem-solving.

A Summary of key points covered in the tutorial

• Understanding Excel Functions: We discussed the importance of understanding Excel functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, and IF for solving equations.
• Setting up Equations: We learned how to set up equations in Excel using cell references and mathematical operators.
• Solving Equations: We explored different methods for solving equations in Excel, including using the Goal Seek feature and creating custom functions.

Best practices for efficiency and accuracy when solving equations in Excel

• Organize Your Data: Keep your data organized in Excel by using separate sheets for different types of equations.
• Use Named Ranges: Utilize named ranges in Excel to make your equations more readable and easier to manage.
• Check Your Work: Always double-check your equations and results to ensure accuracy before relying on them for decision-making.
• Document Your Process: Document your process for solving equations in Excel so that you can easily replicate it in the future or share it with others.

Encouraging continual learning and experimentation with Excel for problem-solving

Excel is a powerful tool for solving equations, but there is always more to learn. Continual learning and experimentation with Excel can help you discover new features and functions that can improve your problem-solving skills. Don't be afraid to try new things and push the boundaries of what you can do with Excel.

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Excel Exercises helps regular people learn Excel as quickly as possible.

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Practice Excel the right way - in small, bite-sized, engaging lessons - rather than falling asleep reading a lengthy article or daydreaming through a long video. This is Excel practice for those who learn by doing, not by watching. There's a reason thousands of people are choosing to learn Excel with ExcelExercises: because it works.

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We walk you through all the Excel functions that you need to know, forcing you to type through practice exercises to get hands-on and commit them to memory. You'll also practice keyboard shortcuts on your own keyboard to build muscle memory and get faster at manipulating spreadsheets. Through hands-on repetition and smart skills targeting, I've distilled all the skills I've learned from years of working with Excel to a program that can be completed in a matter of days.

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These practice exercises aren't just engaging; they are actually fun. score points by answering questions correctly and advance through the levels as you learn, rather than relying on boring memorization. you'll start by practicing some easy skills and work your way up to practicing more advanced techniques. by gradually introducing new concepts for you to practice, we make it easy to learn all the techniques you need to become an excel master. whether you're searching for easy excel practice exercises or more advanced formula practice, excel exercises offers a fun learning experience for all skill levels - it doesn't even feel like learning, thousands of people have already used excel exercises to practice excel skills and advance their careers. solid excel skills are critical for most finance, accounting, consulting, and other data-oriented jobs. and let's be honest - if your shortcut game is on point you'll impress anyone watching over your shoulder. learn excel the fun way today and get your career moving in the right direction., use excel exercises to excel-erate your career, almost any job in finance, accounting, data science, consulting, or any other quantitative industry will require you to use spreadsheets. by mastering excel you can give yourself an edge by completing your work faster and better than your peers. many jobs today also require an excel test as part of the application and interview process. whether you're applying for an internship or you're already an executive, excel mastery is a tangible and noticeable skill that can help you get the offer, earn more money, and make yourself indispensable., today's job market demands strong spreadsheet skills like never before. countless jobs from simple data entry to advanced data analysis, data science, and artificial intelligence (ai) will require proficiency with excel in order to pass the interview process and perform with the speed and quality necessary to thrive in your new job. luckily, there are now more resources than ever available to help you learn excel online. excel exercises is the first web-based excel practice resource that simulates real excel practice exercises right in your browser. let excel exercises help you master excel and get that new job or promotion., hands-on exercises.

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Whether you already have some Excel experience or you've never written a "sum" function in your life, this site will teach you the tools to stand out at work as the Excel Master. It starts easy with simple functions to build a solid foundation. Then it becomes more challenging as the lessons incorporate new concepts, shortcuts, and advanced functions to build your skills, boost your efficiency, and expand on what you thought was possible with Excel. Whether you're a beginner or advanced, there is always a new Excel skill you can learn.

How to avoid broken formulas

If Excel can’t resolve a formula you’re trying to create, you may get an error message like this one:

Unfortunately, this means that Excel can’t understand what you’re trying to do, so you'll need to update your formula or make sure you're using the function correctly. 

Tip:  There are a few common functions where you might run into issues. To learn more, check out COUNTIF , SUMIF , VLOOKUP , or IF . You can also see a list of functions here .

Return to the cell with the broken formula, which will be in edit mode, and Excel will highlight the spot where it’s having a problem. If you still don’t know what to do from there and want to start over, you can press ESC again, or select the Cancel button in the formula bar, which will take you out of edit mode.

If you want to move forward, then the following checklist provides troubleshooting steps to help you figure out what may have gone wrong. Select the headings to learn more.

Note:  If you're using Microsoft 365 for the web, you may not see the same errors, or the solutions may not apply.

Are you using the correct list separators in your formula?

Formulas with more than one argument use list separators to separate their arguments. Which separator is used can vary based on your OS Locale and Excel settings. The most common list separators are comma "," and semicolon ";".

A formula will break if any of its functions use incorrect delimiters.

For more information, please see:  Formula errors when list separator is not set correctly  

Are you seeing a pound (#) error?

Excel throws a variety of pound (#) errors such as #VALUE!, #REF!, #NUM, #N/A, #DIV/0!, #NAME?, and #NULL!, to indicate something in your formula isn't working properly. For example, the #VALUE! error is caused by incorrect formatting or unsupported data types in arguments. Or, you'll see the #REF! error if a formula refers to cells that have been deleted or replaced with other data. Troubleshooting guidance will differ for each error.

Note:  #### is not a formula-related error. It just means that the column isn't wide enough to display the cell contents. Simply drag the column to widen it, or go to Home > Format > AutoFit Column Width .

Refer to any of the following topics corresponding to the pound error you see:

Correct a #NUM! error

Correct a #VALUE! error

Correct a #N/A error

Correct a #DIV/0! error

Correct a #REF! error

Correct a #NAME? error

Correct a #NULL! error

There are broken links in the formula

Each time you open a spreadsheet that contains formulas referring to values in other spreadsheets, you'll be prompted to update the references or leave them as-is.

Excel displays the above dialog box to make sure that the formulas in the current spreadsheet always point to the most updated value in case the reference value has changed. You can choose to update the references, or skip if you don't want to update. Even if you choose to not update the references, you can always manually update the links in the spreadsheet whenever you want.

You can always disable the dialog box from appearing at start up. To do that, go to File > Options > Advanced > General , and clear the  Ask to update automatic links  box.

Important:  If this is the first time you're working with broken links in formulas, if you need a refresher on resolving broken links, or if you don't know whether to update the references, see Control when external references (links) are updated .

The formula displays the syntax, and not the value

If the formula doesn't display the value, follow these steps:

Make sure Excel is set to show formulas in your spreadsheet. To do this, select the Formulas tab, and in the Formula Auditing group, select  Show Formulas .

Tip:  You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + ` (the key above the Tab key). When you do this, your columns will automatically widen to display your formulas, but don’t worry, when you toggle back to the normal view, your columns will resize.

If the step above still doesn't resolve the issue, it's possible the cell is formatted as text. You can right-click on the cell and select Format Cells > General (or Ctrl + 1 ), then press F2 > Enter to change the format.

If you have a column with a large range of cells that are formatted as text, you can select the range, apply the number format of your choice, and go to Data > Text to Column > Finish . This will apply the format to all of the selected cells.

The formula is not calculating

When a formula does not calculate, you'll need to check if automatic calculation is enabled in Excel. Formulas won't calculate if manual calculation is enabled. Follow these steps to check for Automatic calculation .

Select the File tab, select  Options , and then select the Formulas category.

In the Calculation options section, under Workbook Calculation , make sure the Automatic option is selected.

For more information on calculations, see Change formula recalculation, iteration, or precision .

There are one or more circular references in the formula

A circular reference occurs when a formula refers to the cell that it's located in. The fix is to either move the formula to another cell, or change the formula syntax to one that avoids circular references. However, in some scenarios you may need circular references because they cause your functions to iterate—repeat until a specific numeric condition is met. In such cases, you'll need to enable Remove or allow a circular reference .

For more information on circular references, see Remove or allow a circular reference .

Does your function start with an equal sign (=)?

If your entry doesn’t start with an equal sign, it isn’t a formula, and won’t be calculated—a common mistake.

When you type something like SUM(A1:A10) , Excel shows the text string SUM(A1:A10) instead of a formula result. Alternatively, if you type 11/2 , Excel shows a date, such as 2-Nov or 11/02/2009, instead of dividing 11 by 2.

To avoid these unexpected results, always start the function with an equal sign. For example, type: = SUM(A1:A10) and =11/2 .

Have you matched the opening and closing parentheses?

When you use a function in a formula, each opening parenthesis needs a closing parenthesis for the function to work correctly. Make sure that all parentheses are part of a matching pair. For example, the formula =IF(B5<0),"Not valid",B5*1.05) won’t work because there are two closing parentheses, but only one opening parenthesis. The correct formula would look like this: =IF(B5<0,"Not valid",B5*1.05) .

Are all required arguments present in the syntax?

Excel functions have arguments—values you need to provide for the function to work. Only a few functions (such as PI or TODAY ) take no arguments. Check the formula syntax that appears as you start typing in the function, to make sure the function has the required arguments.

For example, the UPPER function accepts only one string of text or cell reference as its argument: =UPPER("hello") or =UPPER(C2)

Note:  You'll see the function’s arguments listed in a floating function reference toolbar beneath the formula as you're typing it.

Also, some functions, such as SUM , require numerical arguments only, while other functions, such as REPLACE , require a text value for at least one of their arguments. If you use the wrong data type, functions might return unexpected results or show a #VALUE! error.

If you need to quickly look up the syntax of a particular function, see the list of Excel functions (by category) .

Are there any unformatted numbers in formulas?

Don't enter numbers formatted with dollar signs ($) or decimal separators (,) in formulas because dollar signs indicate Absolute References and commas are argument separators. Instead of entering $1,000 , enter 1000 in the formula.

If you use formatted numbers in arguments, you’ll get unexpected calculation results, but you may also see the #NUM! error. For example, if you enter the formula =ABS(-2,134) to find the absolute value of -2134, Excel shows the #NUM! error, because the ABS function accepts only one argument, and it sees the -2, and 134 as separate arguments.

Note:  You can format the formula result with decimal separators and currency symbols after you enter the formula using unformatted numbers (constants). It’s generally not a good idea to put constants in formulas, because they can be hard to find if you need to update later and they're more prone to being typed incorrectly. It’s much better to put your constants in cells, where they're out in the open and easily referenced.

Do the referred cells belong to the correct data type?

Your formula might not return expected results if the cell’s data type can’t be used in calculations. For example, if you enter a simple formula =2+3 in a cell that’s formatted as text, Excel can’t calculate the data you entered. All you'll see in the cell is =2+3 . To fix this, change the cell’s data type from Text to General like this:

Select the cell.

Select  Home and select the arrow to expand the Number or  Number Format  group (or press Ctrl + 1 ). Then select  General .

Press F2 to put the cell in the edit mode, and then press Enter to accept the formula.

A date you enter in a cell that’s using the Number data type might be shown as a numeric date value instead of a date. To show a number as a date, pick a Date format in the Number Format gallery.

Are you trying to multiply without using the * symbol?

It's fairly common to use x as the multiplication operator in a formula, but Excel can only accept the asterisk (*) for multiplication. If you use constants in your formula, Excel shows an error message and can fix the formula for you by replacing the x with the asterisk (*).

However, if you use cell references, Excel will return a #NAME? error.

Are quotation marks missing around text in formulas?

If you create a formula that includes text, enclose the text in quotation marks.

For example, the formula ="Today is " & TEXT(TODAY(),"dddd, mmmm dd") combines the text "Today is " with the results of the TEXT and TODAY functions, and returns say something like Today is Monday, May 30 .

In the formula, "Today is " has a space before the ending quotation mark to provide the blank space you want between the words "Today is" and "Monday, May 30." Without quotation marks around the text, the formula might show the #NAME? error .

Are there more than 64 functions in a formula?

You can combine (or nest) up to 64 levels of functions within a formula.

For example, the formula =IF(SQRT(PI())<2,"Less than two!","More than two!") has 3 levels of functions; the PI function is nested inside the SQRT function , which in turn is nested inside the IF function .

Are sheet names enclosed in single quotation marks?

When you type a reference to values or cells in another worksheet, and the name of that sheet has a non-alphabetical character (such as a space), enclose the name in single quotation marks (').

For example, to return the value from cell D3 in a worksheet named Quarterly Data in your workbook, type: ='Quarterly Data'!D3 . Without the quotation marks around the sheet name, the formula shows the #NAME? error .

You can also select the values or cells in another sheet to refer to them in your formula. Excel then automatically adds the quotation marks around the sheet names.

If the formula references an external workbook, is the path to the workbook referenced correctly?

When you type a reference to values or cells in another workbook, include the workbook name enclosed in square brackets ([]) followed by the name of the worksheet that has the values or cells.

For example, to refer to cells A1 through A8 on the Sales sheet in the Q2 Operations workbook that’s open in Excel, type: =[Q2 Operations.xlsx]Sales!A1:A8 . Without the square brackets, the formula shows the #REF! error .

If the workbook isn’t open in Excel, type the full path to the file.

For example, =ROWS('C:\My Documents\[Q2 Operations.xlsx]Sales'!A1:A8) .

Note:  If the full path has space characters, enclose the path in single quotation marks (at the beginning of the path and after the name of the worksheet, before the exclamation point).

Tip:  The easiest way to get the path to the other workbook is to open the other workbook, then from your original workbook, type =, and use Alt+Tab to shift to the other workbook. Select any cell on the sheet you want, then close the source workbook. Your formula will automatically update to display the full file path and sheet name along with the required syntax. You can even copy and paste the path and use wherever you need it.

Are you dividing numeric values by zero?

Dividing a cell by another cell that has zero (0) or no value results in a #DIV/0! error .

To avoid this error, you can address it directly and test for the existence of the denominator. You could use: 

=IF(B1,A1/B1,0)

Which says IF(B1 exists, then divide A1 by B1, otherwise return a 0).

Is the formula referencing deleted data?

Always check to see if you have any formulas that refer to data in cells, ranges, defined names, worksheets, or workbooks before you delete anything. You can then replace these formulas with their results before you remove the referenced data.

If you can’t replace the formulas with their results, review this information about the errors and possible solutions:

If a formula refers to cells that have been deleted or replaced with other data, and if it returns a #REF! error , select the cell with the #REF! error. In the formula bar, select #REF! and delete it. Then enter the range for the formula again.

If a defined name is missing, and a formula that refers to that name returns a #NAME? error , define a new name that refers to the range you want, or change the formula to refer directly to the range of cells (for example, A2:D8).

If a worksheet is missing, and a formula that refers to it returns a #REF! error, there’s no way to fix this, unfortunately—a worksheet that’s been deleted can't be recovered.

If a workbook is missing, a formula that refers to it remains intact until you update the formula.

For example, if your formula is =[Book1.xlsx]Sheet1'!A1 and you no longer have Book1.xlsx, the values referenced in that workbook stay available. However, if you edit and save a formula that refers to that workbook, Excel shows the Update Values dialog box and prompts you to enter a file name. Select  Cancel , and then make sure this data isn’t lost by replacing the formulas that refer to the missing workbook with the formula results.

Have you copied and pasted cells associated to a formula in the spreadsheet?

Sometimes, when you copy the contents of a cell, you want to paste just the value and not the underlying formula that's displayed in the formula bar.

For example, you might want to copy the resulting value of a formula to a cell on another worksheet. Or you might want to delete the values that you used in a formula after you copied the resulting value to another cell on the worksheet. Both of these actions cause an invalid cell reference error (#REF!) to appear in the destination cell, because the cells that contain the values you used in the formula can no longer be referenced.

You can avoid this error by pasting the resulting values of formulas, without the formula, in destination cells.

On a worksheet, select the cells that contain the resulting values of a formula that you want to copy.

Keyboard shortcut: Press CTRL+C.

Select the upper-left cell of the paste area.

Tip:  To move or copy a selection to a different worksheet or workbook, select another worksheet tab or switch to another workbook, and then select the upper-left cell of the paste area.

If you have a nested formula, evaluate the formula one step at a time

To understand how a complex or nested formula calculates the final result, you can evaluate that formula.

Select the formula you want to evaluate.

Select  Formulas > Evaluate Formula .

Select  Evaluate to examine the value of the underlined reference. The result of the evaluation is shown in italics.

If the underlined part of the formula is a reference to another formula, select  Step In to show the other formula in the Evaluation box. Select  Step Out to go back to the previous cell and formula.

The Step In button isn’t available the second time the reference appears in the formula—or if the formula refers to a cell in another workbook.

Continue until each part of the formula has been evaluated.

The Evaluate Formula tool won't necessarily tell you why your formula is broken, but it can help point out where. This can be a very handy tool in larger formulas where it might otherwise be difficult to find the problem.

Some parts of the IF and CHOOSE functions won’t be evaluated, and the #N/A error might appear in the Evaluation box.

Blank references are shown as zero values (0) in the Evaluation box.

Some functions are recalculated every time the worksheet changes. Those functions, including the RAND , AREAS , INDEX , OFFSET , CELL , INDIRECT , ROWS , COLUMNS , NOW , TODAY , and RANDBETWEEN functions, can cause the Evaluate Formula dialog box to show results that are different from the actual results in the cell on the worksheet.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community  or get support in  Communities .

Tip:  If you're a small business owner looking for more information on how to get Microsoft 365 set up, visit Small business help & learning .

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Excel Formula Errors (Find and Solve)

Excel is frequently used in finance, accounting, data analysis, and project management. However, if there is any error in formulas, that can hamper your work. So, to ensure accurate calculations and error-free work, it is essential to know why the formula errors occur and how to resolve the issue. Therefore, in this article, I will show you 10 common Excel formula errors that occur frequently in Excel, along with the reason and solution of them.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook here.

How to Find All Errors in Excel

While working with Excel, some errors are common and occur frequently. So, to avoid them, knowing how to find all errors at once is necessary. Click Find & Select , then select Go To Special… from the Home tab. Or you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+G and select Special from Go To box.

From the Go To Special box, check only the Errors option in the Formula section to find only the Formula Errors.

Error Codes

Each error contains an error code that can be found using ERROR.TYPE function. Below there is a list of these error codes.

#DIV/0! : 2

#VALUE! : 3

#SPILL! : 9

10 Common Formula Errors with Reason & Solution

To demonstrate different formula errors, I have a dataset containing a company’s sales data. Here, I have the product name, units sold, unit cost, and total cost of each product.

Now, I will show you the reasons and solutions for the 10 most common formula errors in Excel using this dataset.

1. #NAME? Error

Invalid name error, #NAME? , occurs when Excel does not recognize something, i.e., a function name, a misspelled function name or named range, cell reference not matching, etc. For example, in the image below, I wanted to calculate the sum of total costs. But I misspelled the function name resulting in #NAME? error.

To solve this error, insert the function name properly. Select the cell where the formula was before, enter the right formula carefully, and you will see the error removed.

2. #DIV/0! Error

#DIV/0! or divided by zero occurs when a value is divided by zero. Since any value divided by zero is undefined, Excel shows an error. In the image below, you can see no value in cell C9 , meaning it contains 0. So, when I tried to divide the value of D9 by C9 , Excel returned a #DIV/0! error.

Insert a numerical value instead of 0. Here, I inserted $71.00 as the unit cost of perfume, and we can see the unit amount instead of the error value.

3. #REF! Error

#REF! Error is a common error. Excel shows it if any cell reference is invalid.

Like in the image below, I calculate the total cost by multiplying Units and Unit Cost values. Now I will delete the Units column by selecting it and clicking Delete Sheet Columns from the Delete drop-down.

Next, you will see that the Total Cost column contains #REF! Error as cell references of the Unit column is invalid now.

So, to resolve this error, you need to check if the cell reference is valid and then change it accordingly. Moreover, before deleting or making any change in your Excel sheet, ensure all the formulas are pasted as values to prevent this error.

As I inserted the Units column here, the errors are removed now.

4. #NULL! Error

#NULL Error occurs if there is a typo in the formula, such as a space inserted instead of a comma or colon.

For example, an asterisk sign was supposed to be between the cell references in the image. Instead, a space was inserted, resulting in a #NULL error.

Avoiding typos or being careful while inserting formulas is the key to solving this error. Here, I inserted the corrected formula and got the desired result.

5. #VALUE! Error

When a value is not inserted in an expected or valid format (Number, text, time, date, etc.), #VALUE! error occurs. For example, if a text value is entered where a numeric value is expected, a cell is left blank, or dates are formatted as text.

As you can see, I entered the unit value as “ twenty ,” whereas it should have been “ 20 ,” resulting in #VALUE! error.

Insert the properly formatted value and check the valid type of value while inserting the value to avoid this error. Here, I inserted a numeric value to avoid the #VALUE! error.

6. ###### Error

###### error is common though it technically is not an error. You will see most often, after inserting a formula, Excel displays a string of hash signs ( #### ) instead of the output. This happens if the value in the cell is too wide to fit in the column.

Here, the value in cell E5 does not fit in the column width it currently is in, thus showing a #### error.

The solution to this error is to widen the column. To do that, drag the column handle showing the ##### error and pull it to the right side until the error disappears and values appear, or double-click on it to adjust the width.

Here, the error disappeared as I increased the column width.

7. #N/A Error

The #N/A error appears when Excel cannot locate something, i.e., a misspelled name or function, extra spaces, etc. VLOOKUP , LOOKUP , HLOOKUP , and MATCH functions are impacted mainly by #N/A errors, as an incomplete lookup table is one of the most common reasons for the not available error.

For example, look at the image below; here, I was trying to find the total cost for “ Hand Wash ”, but this product name does not match the product names in the table array. So the lookup function shows the #N/A error.

To avoid the #N/A error, check if the lookup value is available in the table array while working with LOOKUP functions, and for other cases, check for any misspelling or extra space characters.

In my case, I entered “ Soap ” as a product name instead of “ Hand Wash ” since the values for “ Soap ” are available in the table array.

8. #NUM! Error

The #NUM error occurs if the calculated output is either too small, too large, or impossible to calculate, i.e., the square root of the negative number.

Here, the LARGE function is applied to calculate the maximum total cost. But the rank of the large number entered is 11 instead of 1 , which caused the #NUM error. So, here the formula mainly tries to find out the 11th large number from the range, which is not possible as there are only 10 entries resulting in a #NUM error.

The solution to this error is to apply them properly so that the function can calculate properly. I replaced 11 with 1 to find the maximum total cost in the LARGE function.

9. #SPILL! Error

In Excel, some functions return spill range , mainly a set of cells containing the output. If these functions run into any entry in a cell where the result was supposed to be entered, then a #SPILL! error occurs.

Like, the UNIQUE function finds the unique product names, which are three in number. So this function needs three cells for displaying the output, but it encounters an entry “ John ” in the second cell. As a result, it shows #SPILL! error.

To avoid this error, check if there is any entry in the adjacent cells of the cell where you are applying a formula that will return a spill range. Also, if a #SPILL! error appears, then check which cell entry is hindering the function from working, select the cell, and press the Delete button.

Finally, the #SPILL! error will disappear, and you will see the desired outcome.

10. #CALC! Error

While applying a formula that works with an array, if the formula cannot calculate because of misinformation or anything else, then a #CALC! error occurs.

For example, the FILTER function filters the values from the range B5:E14 if B5:B14 matches “ Hand Wash.” However, in cell range B5:B14 , there is no “ Hand Wash ” entry, which does not let the FILTER function calculate, resulting in a calculation error.

The solution to this error is to be cautious while working with the functions that give output in an array. I inserted “ Soap ” as the product name, which matches the range B5:B14 and filters all the entries of the mentioned product.

Things to Remember

• To avoid formula errors while working, you can use the IFERROR function.
• ##### error does not contain any error code as it is not an error technically. It simply says that you need to widen your columns to make the output visible.

This article demonstrated the reasons and solutions for 10 common Excel formula errors. In addition to that, it also showed how to find all errors easily using the Go To Special option. Furthermore, it also provided a list of error codes in Excel. Excel formula errors help you make your calculations consistent and error-free. So, knowing about them is necessary for working efficiently in Excel. Lastly, I hope this article taught you why and when the Excel formula occurs and how to handle them efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I turn off formula errors?

If you do not want formula errors to show up, then you can turn them off. To do that, select Options from the File tab. In the Excel Options box, select Formulas from Error Checking section, and uncheck the Enable background error checking check box.

2. How to Find Errors with Automated Error Checking?

By default, Excel highlights some formula errors displaying a green triangle on the top left side of a cell. Click on the triangle, and you will see the explanation of the error.

3. What is an error in Excel formula ####?

Excel shows a #### error if the column width cannot display

Excel Formula Errors: Knowledge Hub

• How to Remove #DIV/0! Error in Excel
• How to Remove Number Error in Excel
• How to Remove Value Error in Excel
• [Fixed!] NUM Error in Excel
• [Fixed!] VALUE Error in Excel
• [Fixed!] Null Error in Excel
• [Fixed!] NAME Error in Excel
• How to Correct a Spill (#SPILL!) Error in Excel
• How to Find Reference Errors in Excel
• How to Fix #REF! Error in Excel
• How to Fix Formula in Excel
• [Fixed!] Excel Found a Problem with One or More Formula References in This Worksheet

<< Go Back to Errors in Excel  | Learn Excel

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Priti Halder holds a BSc degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. She has been a part of the ExcelDemy project for 6 months and during this time, she has written over 30 articles and 5 comments for the platform. Priti is currently employed as an Excel and VBA content developer and provides effective solutions to various Excel-related issues. She is passionate about expanding her knowledge of data analysis and Microsoft... Read Full Bio

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