Hi,
Is there any way to solve to quadratic equation is Excel?
I want to do it one cell and then copy it all down in the spreadsheet.
Thanks.
Pete_UK - 29 Nov 2006 12:05 GMT
The general solution for the quadratic equation ax^2 + bx + c = 0 is:
x = (-b +- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac) ) / 2a
NOTE: there are two solutions - one with a +sqrt( ) term and the other
with a -sqrt( ) term, so you will need two columns for the solutions.
If you have values for a in column A, values for b in column B and
values for C in Column C then you can just substitute the appropriate
cell references into the formula above in column D and column E, as
follows:
D1: = (-B1 + SQRT(B1^2 - 4*A1*C1) ) / (2*A1)
E1: = (-B1 - SQRT(B1^2 - 4*A1*C1) ) / (2*A1)
assuming your values start on row 1. Then just copy these two formulae
down the columns for as many values as you have in columns A to C.
Hope this helps.
Pete
> Hi,
>
> Is there any way to solve to quadratic equation is Excel?
> I want to do it one cell and then copy it all down in the spreadsheet.
>
> Thanks.
Bernard Liengme - 29 Nov 2006 16:01 GMT
To expand on Pete's answer, see
http://people.stfx.ca/bliengme/ExcelTips/QuadraticEqn.htm
best wishes

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Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
remove caps from email
> Hi,
>
> Is there any way to solve to quadratic equation is Excel?
> I want to do it one cell and then copy it all down in the spreadsheet.
>
> Thanks.
Jim Reed - 29 Nov 2006 17:32 GMT
The Quadratic Formula is: x = (-b +- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac) ) / 2a
Will your data ever result in non-real solutions? This will occur if the term inside the square root sign is negative (b^2 - 4ac).

Signature
Hi,
Is there any way to solve to quadratic equation is Excel?
I want to do it one cell and then copy it all down in the spreadsheet.
Thanks.