In Microsoft Excel, the LINEST function is easy to use. However, you have to master the array function concept. When this array function is entered within a single spreadsheet, the cell produces results filling the few cells. Here are steps to help you through the linear curve fitting process.
• Key-in the data within two columns, one is for the y variables and the other is for the x variables.
• Choose the area holding the array formula output.
• Click the formula bar, which is located at the top of the spreadsheet. Now, press the wizard button function. This is within the formula bar that is labeled as fx. Two scroll box will appear; LINEST is in the right and STATISTICAL is located on the left scroll box. Click the NEXT> button. There you will see through the spreadsheet, which contains the y values through dragging inside the original spreadsheet with the mouse. Click the dialog box which contains ‘known_x’s’ then choose the cells that contain the x values. Type the keyword ‘TRUE’ within its last two dialog boxes. The first TRUE points out the line that to be within the form of ‘y=mx+b’ having the intercept of non-zero. The other specifies the error estimates, which have to be listed.