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FORECAST.LINEAR

The FORECAST.LINEAR function calculates the predicted value of the y-variable for a given value of the x-variable based on linear regression. It is commonly used to predict future trends based on existing data points.

Usage

Use the FORECAST.LINEAR formula with the syntax shown below, it has 3 required parameters:

=FORECAST.LINEAR(x, data_y, data_x)
Parameters:
  1. x (required):
    The value for which you want to predict the y-value.
  2. data_y (required):
    The array or range containing the dependent variable (y-values) in the regression model.
  3. data_x (required):
    The array or range containing the independent variable (x-values) in the regression model.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the FORECAST.LINEAR formula in Google Sheets.

Predicting future sales

If you have a set of sales data over a certain period of time, you can use FORECAST.LINEAR to predict future sales based on the existing data points.

Predicting future website traffic

If you have website traffic data, you can use FORECAST.LINEAR to predict future traffic and plan for server capacity and bandwidth requirements.

Predicting future inventory levels

If you have inventory data, you can use FORECAST.LINEAR to predict future inventory levels, which can help with planning for purchasing and manufacturing activities.

Common Mistakes

FORECAST.LINEAR not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the FORECAST.LINEAR Google Sheets Formula:

Incorrect order of data_x and data_y

The order of the data_y and data_x parameters must be the opposite of what is expected based on the natural order of the data. Make sure to input the data_y parameter first followed by the data_x parameter.

Non-numeric or non-adjacent input data

The input data for the data_y and data_x parameters must be numeric and adjacent. Check that all input data is numeric and that there are no blank cells between the data.

Insufficient data points

There must be at least two pairs of data points for the formula to work. Check that there are enough data points provided for the formula to work.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to FORECAST.LINEAR or are often used with it in a formula:

  • LINEST

    The LINEST formula is used to calculate the statistics for a line by calculating the line's slope and y-intercept. It is commonly used to find the best-fit straight line for a given set of data points.

  • TREND

    The TREND formula is used to calculate future values based on historical data. It fits a straight line (using the method of least squares) to the arrays specified in the known_data_y and known_data_x parameters and then uses that line to calculate new y-values for the array specified in the new_data_x parameter. If b is set to TRUE, then the calculation will include the y-intercept of the line. This formula is commonly used in forecasting and trend analysis.

  • INTERCEPT

    The INTERCEPT function calculates the point where the line of best fit for a set of data intercepts the y-axis. This function is commonly used in regression analysis to find the constant b in the equation y=mx+b where m is the slope of the regression line.

  • SLOPE

    The SLOPE formula calculates the slope of the linear regression line that best fits the input data. It is commonly used in statistics to analyze trends and predict future values based on past performance.

Learn More

You can learn more about the FORECAST.LINEAR Google Sheets function on Google Support.