Goal Seeking
Goal seeking is a useful feature that works in conjunction with your
formulas. If you know what a formula result should be, Excel can tell
you which values of one or more input cells you need to produce that
result.
Single-cell goal seeking (also known as backsolving) represents a
rather simple concept. Excel determines what value in an input cell
produces a desired result in a formula cell.
For example, you want to have minimum $10 000,00 income in sales
this year. Your income consists of a unit price (now you think about
$25 per unit), a discount of every unit (e.g. 10%), bank fees (2,5% per
unit), a sales value (about 200 unit) and taxes (13%).
On the Data tab, in the Data Tools group, click What-If Analysis,
and then click Goal Seek...:
The following list describes the entries for each of the items in the
dialog box:
• Set cell specifies the location of the formula you use to get the
end result. In this case, the formula is in cell B7, and multiplies
the number of units sold by the unit price.
• Type the target value in the To value box, which in this case is
$10,000.
• In the By changing cell box, specify the cell location of the
variable that you want to change to reach your goal-in this case,
cell B4, the cell containing the amount of boxes you need to sell
to achieve your $10,000 sales goal.
As soon as you click OK or press Enter, Excel begins seeking the
specified goal. In this case, the solution indicated is 480.00 total units
at the current price of $25.00: