The Student Room Group
Yes, excel can calculate a best fit line and include its equation, from which you can get the gradient.
Reply 2
How? :p:
Right click on the point, 'Add Trend Line' then 'Display Eqn On Graph'
The gradient is the bit before the X value =)
Reply 4
Sorry, how do i add the line first?
I just said.. Right click on any point, then 'Add Trend Line'
Reply 6
Can't see anything... Office 2003...

EDIT: 'Any point lol', ok got it now. It's a bit of a crude line though, it only extends as far as the data... :s-smilie:

Can i make excel display the intercept?
Reply 7
Select the option to display equation (or whatever it's called), and there's the information you need.
Reply 8
majikthise
Select the option to display equation (or whatever it's called), and there's the information you need.


Yep. If it's a straight line, it will be in the format of:
y=mx+c

m is the gradient (change in y for each 1 change in x), and c is the intercept.
LearningMath
Can't see anything... Office 2003...

EDIT: 'Any point lol', ok got it now. It's a bit of a crude line though, it only extends as far as the data... :s-smilie:

Can i make excel display the intercept?


how can a line be crude? its a line!
LearningMath
it only extends as far as the data... :s-smilie:



well there is a very good reason for that.....
Reply 11
Hey guys. Little help please. I've got the equation but it gives me a decimal but when i wor out the gradient myself from my raw data i get a figure of thousands
Original post by 'bob'
Hey guys. Little help please. I've got the equation but it gives me a decimal but when i wor out the gradient myself from my raw data i get a figure of thousands


You could perform a linear regression analysis on your data for a more accurate interpretation and gradient.

You might need to activate the add-in Analysis TookPak, you can do this in "Excel Options".
Reply 13
Hi guys, if the line of best fit isn't a line but instead a curve, how do I work out the gradient of the tangent on the curve at a specific point (without having to differentiate etc.)? Is there a way excel can differentiate for me and I can input the x value to get the gradient at that specific point?
Original post by LearningMath
Basically i need the line of best fit to be really accurate, can excel add it in for me + calculate gradient?


You can use the functions SLOPE and INTERCEPT
Original post by natninja
You can use the functions SLOPE and INTERCEPT

Thanks to you I can FINALLY use more accurate slope values. I didn't know this before but now I can use this for my Lab Report in 3rd-year uni. Cheers natninja!