LINEST Function Returning Only One Value (99639)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95
Microsoft Excel for Windows 5.0

This article was previously published under Q99639

SUMMARY

The LINEST worksheet function returns only one value (the slope) when multiple values should be returned.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when one cell is selected when you type the LINEST formula, and press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER (in Microsoft Excel for Windows) OR COMMAND+RETURN (in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh).

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

MORE INFORMATION

To return the additional regression statistics, select a range of cells consisting of n columns (where n represents the number of known x's) and 5 rows.

NOTE: Because LINEST is an array formula, you must enter the function as an array. To do this, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER in Microsoft Excel for Windows, or COMMAND+RETURN in Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh.

The syntax of the LINEST function is

   =LINEST(known_y's,known_x's)

where "known_y's" and "known_x's" are ranges on the worksheet containing the y-values and the x-values, respectively.

REFERENCES

Refer to the LINEST() section of the Microsoft Excel Function Reference for an illustration that depicts the order in which the additional regression statistics are returned.

"Microsoft Excel Function Reference," version 4.0, pages 254-258
"Microsoft Excel User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 153-166
"Microsoft Excel Function Reference," version 3.0, pages 138-141
"Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 3.0, pages 277-289

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	8/15/2005
Keywords:	kbprb KB99639