

It will automatically use the selected cell as the Set cell. Select the cell containing the error, then go to Data > What-If Analysis > Goal Seek. You can use Goal Seek to get the error to zero. This cell calculates the error of your guess. In order to use Goal Seek, set up a cell to calculate the difference between the actual and the calculated flow rate in cell C14: Obviously, the calculated flow rate isn’t the same as the actual flow rate of 110 m 3/s, so you’ll need a better guess for the depth, y. Since y is just a guess, the value you calculate won’t be equal to the known flow rate, but you can use Goal Seek to adjust the value of y until the calculated flow rate matches the known flow rate. Now you can calculate the flow rate based on the guess value for y. For the hydraulic radius, enter the formula: By/(B+2y). For the hydraulic radius, enter the formula:Įxcel won’t accept R as a name, so name this cell Rad as an abbreviation for radius. Solving Systems of Simultaneous Nonlinear Equations in Excel By. Next, we’ll enter the three equations into Excel. The other input cells have been assigned names. To start, enter a guess value for y of 2 meters. We can solve this system of simultaneous non-linear equations using Goal Seek. The whole system is governed by these three equations for flow rate (Q), area (A) and hydraulic radius (R):īoth area and hydraulic radius are dependent on y, and both of those terms are in the flow rate equation. The area of flow is dependent on the depth, y, which is what will be solved for. This package may be MAPLE, it could be Excel, but the ideal one is MATLAB.


This channel has a known flow rate (Q), width (B), and slope (S). Here we use a package to obtain the solution of the system. In our worksheet, we’ll set up equations for flow in an open channel and use them to find the depth of the flow given a flow rate, slope, roughness, and channel width. However, we can extend the concept of using Goal Seek from solving a single implicit equation to solving systems of nonlinear equations. A workbook with an example chart can be found here.Unlike simultaneous linear equations, simultaneous non-linear equations cannot be solved using linear algebra. Use Solver to find an optimal (maximum or minimum) value for a formula in one. See this link for a more detailed explanation of this technique. Solver is a Microsoft Excel add-in program you can use for what-if analysis. Here is another example chart, where the only change was the equation for y entered into the sheet. With the completion of these steps, the graph is ready for any final formatting you need. Excel treats as an array formula any expression entered for a defined name.įor the y name, replace the array constants with the formula =EVALUATE($B$4) This is an array formula, but no special method is needed to enter it. The end result is an array of 20 equally spaced points starting at -1 and ending at 1. For the name "x" (for example), in the "Refers to" input box of the name manager create a set of array constants by entering the formula "= (for this example), which is then shifted to start at -1 and multiplied by the increment by which each x value increases.

The initial setup is a bit tricky, but the end result is flexible and powerful.īegin by creating a Scatter with Smooth Lines chart using a few dummy numbers in the worksheet, something as simple as the number 1 in A1, 2 in A2, 3 in B1, and 4 in B2.Ĭreate two defined names for the x and y variables by using the Name Manager in the Formulas tab of the ribbon. There is a very slick way to plot linear and other equations using defined names.
SOLVE EQUATION SYSTEMS IN EXCEL HOW TO
How do I get Excel to graph this for me? I tried googling, but all I found was stuff on how to solve equation systems (I do need to plot 2 or 3 equations on the same plot, but I don't need to solve the entire system), or how to create a simple graph when you have 2 columns of values. I tried setting up something in H2, =G2=0, which contains FALSE, but I don't think this is the right approach. What I need is to get Excel to plot a graph of the values of B2 and C2 for which G2 will be 0. I'm using Excel 2011 for Mac, and want it to plot a linear equation. Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask (Meta says it's the right place but you never know) but I'm really struggling with finding a simple answer to this.
