Excel question... Please delete if not keto-enough

(Aimee Moisa) #1

I know this isn’t “strictly keto” but it’s to help me with my keto-induced weight loss tracking so hopefully it’s OK. :slight_smile:

I added a trend line to my weight loss graph and it starts ABOVE my starting value. The number 342.0 is my starting value. Does anyone have any idea why and how to fix it?
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(Shayne) #2

Maybe this will help;

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/211967/chart-trendline-formula-is-inaccurate-in-excel

(Aimee Moisa) #3

Thanks! I DID google before coming here but sadly my google-foo ain’t that great.

(Shayne) #4

I just asked why would a trend line excel start higher than the data and that was one of the answers. I hope it helped.

(Aimee Moisa) #5

I entered something similar, it is just my google luck.

(Roy D) #6

TREND function returns values along a linear trend. TREND fits a straight line (using the method of least squares) to the arrays known_y’s and known_x’s.

Another approach to plot the weight loss is to plot your data as a line chart. Data that is arranged in columns or rows on an Excel sheet can be plotted in a line chart. Line charts can display continuous data over time, set against a common scale, and are therefore ideal to show trends in data at equal intervals.

To convert your chart;

  • Right click on a data point in the plot
  • Select “Format Data Point …”
  • Select “Line”
  • Click in the “Color” box, select a line color
  • Click “OK”

Good luck …

#7

The trend line is the statistical best fit for all of the data. No individual data point will necessarily be on the best fit trend line.

If you want the “trend” line to actually be a straight line from starting weight to ending weight, I think you’d have to compute your own data points based on the slope of a line between them.

BTW, on a weight loss chart, you probably want to use an exponential trend instead of a linear trend.

(Aimee Moisa) #8

I agree, I chose the exponential line, but it isnt quite the right curve for weight loss and there is no way to add your own formula for the trend line, that I can see.