Part V: Analyzing Data with Excel
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Figure 37.9 shows a workbook set up to solve this problem. This workbook has three named cells,
which makes the formulas more readable:l (^) x: C11
l y: C12
l (^) z: C13
The three named cells are all initialized to 1 (which certainly doesn’t solve the equations).
FIGURE 37.9
Solver will attempt to solve this series of linear equations.
On the CD
This workbook, named linear equations.xlsx, is available on the companion CD-ROM. n
The three equations are represented by formulas in the range B6:B8:
l B6: =(4x)+(y)-(2z)
l (^) B7: =(2x)-(3y)+(3z)
l B8: =-(6x)-(2*y)+(z)
These formulas use the values in the x, y, and z named cells. The range C6:C8 contains the
“desired” result for these three formulas.
Solver will adjust the values in x, y, and z — that is, the changing cells in C11:C13 — subject to
these constraints:
l (^) B6=C6
l B7=C7
l (^) B8=C8