|
<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> SLOPE (slope of a linear trend) |
Syntax:
SLOPE(y_values, x_values)
Description:
Returns the slope of a best-fit line for the given values. The slope of a line is the value the y value grows when the x value is raised by 1.
A best-fit line is the result of a linear regression, a statistical technique that adapts a line to a set of data points (for example, the results of a series of measurements).
For the y_values and x_values arguments, you usually specify a cell range.
Y_values are the known y values.
X_values are the known x values.
Note:
Note that this function expects the y_values first and then the x_values – not the other way around.
Annotation:
The linear regression is performed with this function using the least squares method.
Example:
The resistance of a temperature-sensitive resistor has been measured at several temperatures.
Cells A1:A4 contain the temperatures measured: 8, 20, 25, 28
Cells B1:B4 contain the resistances measured: 261, 508, 608, 680
The following calculation returns the slope of a best-fit line based on these values:
SLOPE(B1:B4, A1:A4) returns 20.76799
See also: