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GROWTH

The GROWTH formula in Google Sheets calculates predicted exponential growth by using existing data. It returns an array of values that represent the y-values predicted for the new x-values based on the existing data.

Usage

Use the GROWTH formula with the syntax shown below, it has 1 required parameter and 3 optional parameters:

=GROWTH(known_data_y, [known_data_x], [new_data_x], [b])
Parameters:
  1. known_data_y (required):
    The known y-values, i.e. the dependent variable.
  2. known_data_x (optional):
    The known x-values, i.e. the independent variable. If omitted, the default is the array {1, 2, 3, ...}.
  3. new_data_x (optional):
    The new x-values for which you want to predict the y-values. If omitted, the default is the same as known_data_x.
  4. b (optional):
    A logical value that determines whether to force the constant b to equal 1. If omitted, the default is FALSE.

Examples

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

Predicting future sales

If you have data on past sales and want to predict future sales based on that data, you can use the GROWTH formula to calculate the exponential growth rate and use it to make those predictions.

Estimating population growth

If you have data on past population growth and want to estimate future population growth, you can use the GROWTH formula to calculate the exponential growth rate and use it to make those estimates.

Projecting investment growth

If you have data on past investment growth and want to project future investment growth, you can use the GROWTH formula to calculate the exponential growth rate and use it to make those projections.

Common Mistakes

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

Mismatched range sizes

One of the most common mistakes when using GROWTH is providing arrays of different sizes for the known_data_y and known_data_x parameters, which will result in a value error. Make sure both arrays have the same number of elements.

Incorrect parameter order

Another common mistake is mixing up the order of the parameters. Remember that the known_data_y parameter should always come first, followed by known_data_x, new_data_x, and b (which is optional).

Using non-numeric values

GROWTH can only work with numeric values. If you provide non-numeric data, you will get a #VALUE! error. Check your data for any non-numeric values and remove or correct them.

Missing required parameters

The known_data_y parameter is required for GROWTH to work, but known_data_x and new_data_x are optional. If you omit the required parameter, you will get a #VALUE! error. Make sure to provide at least one array of known y-values.

Incorrect range references

Make sure that your range references for the known_data_y and known_data_x parameters are correct. If you reference a range that doesn't exist or has no values in it, you will get a #REF! error.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to GROWTH or are often used with it in a formula:

  • LOGEST

    The LOGEST function returns statistical information on the exponential curve that best fits a given set of data points. It returns an array of values that describe the exponential curve, including the coefficients of determination and standard error. This function is most commonly used in regression analysis to model data points that have an exponential pattern.

  • 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.

  • FORECAST

    The FORECAST function in Google Sheets is a statistical function that predicts a future value along a linear trend. It returns the predicted value for a chosen x value based on the linear regression of a set of known x and y values. This function is commonly used in finance to predict future values.

  • 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.

Learn More

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