Adding a Trend Line on an Excel Spread Sheet

In Excel, you can add charts and graphs to analyze data. If you have added a chart to a spreadsheet, you may want to add a trend line. Trend lines are used to make predictions or to show trends in data.

Instructions

1. Open the Excel spreadsheet that has the chart where you want to add a trend line and click anywhere on the chart to display "Chart Tools" in the Excel ribbon.

2. Click the "Format" tab and then click the arrow next to "Chart Elements." Select the element you want to use. For example, you may want to select a particular series of data to which to add a trend line.

3. Click the "Layout" tab and select "Trendline" from the "Analysis" section of the ribbon.

4. Select the trend line you want to use. For example, you can choose a linear or exponential trend line. If you don't want to use one of the trend lines from the default list, click "More Trendline Options" to view more to choose.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make changes to a trend line by selecting it from the "Chart Elements" box. After selecting the trend line, right-click over it and select "Format Trendline." You can change the trend line type, color and style here.

References

• Microsoft: Add, Change or Remove a Trendline