Exploring

Microsoft
Excel

2016
Microsoft Excel 2016
Series Editor Mary Anne
Poatsy Mulbery|Davidson
Series Created by Dr. Robert T.
Grauer

Chapter 6
What-If Analysis
Using Decision-Making Tools
Copyright 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Objectives
Create and Maintain Range Names
Create a One-Variable Data Table
Create a Two-Variable Data Table
Determine Optimal Input Values Using Goal Seek
Use Scenario Manager
Load the Solver Add-In
Optimize Results with Solver
Copyright 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Objective 1:
Create and Maintain Range
Names

Skills: Create a Range Name Edit or Delete a Range Name

Use Range Names in Formulas Insert a List of Range Names
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Create and Maintain Range Names

Type
range
name
Select
cell

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Create and Maintain Range Names

Select
range
name
Edit or
delete

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Create and Maintain Range Names

Doubleclick
Tax_Rate

Type = P

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Objective 2:
Create a One-Variable Data
Table

Skills: Set Up One-Variable Substitution Values Add Formulas to a

One-Variable Data Table Calculate Results Format a One-Variable Data
Table
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Create a One-Variable Data Table

Click Fill
First
substituti
on value
5% in D4

Increme
nt value

Select
columns

Stop
value

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Create a One-Variable Data Table

Click
What-If
Analysi
s
Drag down
and right
from
starting
cell

Select
column
input cell

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Create a One-Variable Data Table

Cryptic
column
headings

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Create a One-Variable Data Table

Meaningf
ul column
headings

Type
column
text

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Objective 3:
Create a Two-Variable Data
Table

Skills: Set Up Two-Variable Substitution Values Add a

Formula to the Data Table Calculate Results for a Two-Variable
Data Table
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Create a Two-Variable Data Table

Cell
referenc
e =B12
Varying
monthly
payment
s

Varying
interest
rates

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Create a Two-Variable Data Table

Copyright 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Objective 4:
Determine Optimal Input Values
Using Goal Seek

Skills: Determine Optimal Input Values Using Goal Seek

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Determine Optimal Input Values Using

Goal Seek
Optimize
Monthly
Payment in
B12

Optimize to
800

By changing
Monthly
Payment in
B3
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Objective 5:
Use Scenario Manager

Skills: Create Scenarios Add and Edit Scenarios View

Scenarios
Generate a Scenario Summary Report
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Use Scenario Manager

Click
Add
Click
Edit
Enter
Changi
ng cells
Click
Show

Enter
values

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Use Scenario Manager

Result
cells

New
workshe
et

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Objective 6:
Load the Solver Add-In
Skills: Load the Solver Add-in

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Load the Solver Add-In

Solver Add-in
added to
Ribbon

Select
Solver
Add-in

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Objective 7:
Optimize Results with Solver

Skills: Identify the Objective Cell and Changing Cells Define Constraints
Create a Solver Report Configure Solver Save and Restore a Solver Model
Copyright 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Optimize Results with Solver

Solvers three parameters:
Objective cellspecifies the cell that contains the
formula to be optimized
Changing variable cellscontain variables whose
values change within the constraints
Constraintsspecify the restrictions or limitations
imposed on the model

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Optimize Results with Solver

Click
Add

Minimiz
e

Enter
constraint

Changi
ng cells
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Optimize Results with Solver

Keep or
Restore
?

Select
report

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Optimize Results with Solver

First
section

Second
section

Third
section
New
workshe
et

Copyright 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Summary
Excel What-If analysis tools:

Variable Data Tables

One-Variablecontains different values for one variable
Two-Variablecontains different values for two variables
Goal Seekspecify a desired result without knowing what input value
achieves that goal

Scenario Managerdefine and manage scenarios to compare effects

on calculated results

Solversearches for the best or optimum solution to a problem by

manipulating values for several variables within imposed constraints .
Copyright 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Questions

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Copyright
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