Microsoft KB Archive/76671

{| = TREND Function Requires Known_x's if New_x's Are Specified =
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Last reviewed: November 3, 1994

Article ID: Q76671

SUMMARY
Microsoft Excel version 2.1 returns a #VALUE! error if the Known_x's argument is omitted from the TREND function and New_x's is included. Excel for Windows version 3.0 and all versions of Excel for OS/2 allow you to omit Known_x's while including New_x's.

MORE INFORMATION
The syntax for TREND is:

=TREND(Known_y's,Known_x's,New_x's) Known_x's can be omitted as long as New_x's is omitted as well. If Known_x's is omitted, the default values of {1,2,3...} or {1;2;3...} are used.

Example
Enter the following data into a new worksheet:

A1:    1       B1: 1000 A2:    2       B2: 2000 A3:    3       B3: 3000 A4:    4       B4: 4000 A5:    5       B5: {=TREND(B1:B4,,A5:A6)} A6:    6       B6: {=TREND(B1:B4,,A5:A6)} To enter the formula in cells B5:B6, first select both cells, then type the formula (without the curly brackets). Press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to enter the formula as an array formula. In Excel version 2.1, a #VALUE! error will result in B5:B6. The values 5000 and 6000 are returned in Excel version 3.0.

Solution
To correct the problem in version 2.1, simply include Known_x's. The correct formula for the above example would be:

{=TREND(B1:B4,A1:A4,A5:A6)}
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