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Polynomial Trendline function flaws in Microsoft Excel
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Polynomial Trendline function flaws in Microsoft Excel

Bruce R. Hargreaves and Thomas P. McWilliams
Computational statistics & data analysis, v 54(4), pp 1190-1196
01 Apr 2010

Abstract

Computer Science Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications Mathematics Physical Sciences Science & Technology Statistics & Probability Technology
Numerous statistical and graphical problems have been reported for different versions of Microsoft Excel, including the newest version (Excel 2007). We report newly discovered problems with Excel 2007 when generating polynomial trend line equations, having a user-specified (forced) intercept, from graphed data. We also remind users of Excel's Trendline function of problems with Excel 2003 that have not been corrected in Excel 2007. Excel will "fit" nonsense trend lines to data presented on column and line charts, and can report an inadequate number of significant digits for polynomial trend lines. We provide suggestions for avoiding these continuing problems, but are unable to identify an Excel 2007 workaround solution for the forced-intercept polynomial trend line errors. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Statistics & Probability
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