How To Make A Data Table For What If Analysis In Excel

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 28, 2025, 6:20 PM

how to make a data table for what if analysis in excel

Regarding the Data table to compare multiple results, do you have an example for two variable data table with multiple results/formulas? Hi! Pay attention to the third paragraph of this article. Help me in my assignment . how to inputting and formatting constants, inputs and results data. Hello!

Here is the article that may be helpful to you: Excel format for number, text, scientific notation, accounting, etc. I hope it’ll be helpful. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Data tables in Excel are used to perform What-if Analysis on a given data set. Using data tables, you can analyze the changes to the output value by changing the input values to a formula. There is so much that you can do using data tables in Excel.

😀 Continue reading the article below to learn it all. Also, download our sample workbook here to practice the examples given in this guide. Microsoft Excel offers a few features for performing analyses on what-if scenarios. One of these tools is a Data Table. With it, you can experiment with different values to see various outcomes.

This is a helpful way to see things like loans, investments, product markups, and the like, with different variables. For instance, you may enter several different interest rates for a loan to see what your payment would be with each rate, all in one spot. Data Tables in Excel can include one or two varying inputs. So, let's begin with a one-variable data table. We have calculated the future value of our investment with the FV function and constants for the annual interest rate, number of payments, and payment amount. Here, we'll see what the future value of our investment would be with different interest rates.

You can enter your values in a column or row, but the placement affects where you should place your formula. If your values are in a column, place the formula one cell above and to the right. If your values are in a row, place the formula one cell below and to the left. A data table is a range of cells in which you can change values in some of the cells and come up with different answers to a problem. A good example of a data table employs the PMT function with different loan amounts and interest rates to calculate the affordable amount on a home mortgage loan. Experimenting with different values to observe the corresponding variation in results is a common task in data analysis.

In Microsoft Excel, data tables are part of a suite of commands known as What-If analysis tools. When you construct and analyze data tables, you are doing what-if analysis. What-if analysis is the process of changing the values in cells to see how those changes will affect the outcome of formulas on the worksheet. For example, you can use a data table to vary the interest rate and term length for a loan—to evaluate potential monthly payment amounts. There are three types of what-if analysis tools in Excel: scenarios, data tables, and goal-seek. Scenarios and data tables use sets of input values to calculates possible results.

Goal-seek is distinctly different, it uses a single result and calculates possible input values that would produce that result. Like scenarios, data tables help you explore a set of possible outcomes. Unlike scenarios, data tables show you all the outcomes in one table on one worksheet. Using data tables makes it easy to examine a range of possibilities at a glance. Because you focus on only one or two variables, results are easy to read and share in tabular form. A Data Table in Excel allows you to perform a what-if analysis by testing different combinations of input values and observing their impact on the output of a formula.

C4 is the Investment, C5 the number of years, and C6 the Rate of Interest. You will see the Total Balance for different Investments. You will see the different results in the Total Balance row. The values in the Rate of Interest column were changed. To see the changes of the Total value: With a Data Table in Excel, you can easily vary one or two inputs and perform What-if analysis.

A Data Table is a range of cells in which you can change values in some of the cells and come up with different answers to a problem. If you have more than two variables in your analysis problem, you need to use Scenario Manager Tool of Excel. For details, refer to the chapter What-If Analysis with Scenario Manager in this tutorial. A one-variable Data Table can be used if you want to see how different values of one variable in one or more formulas will change the results of those formulas. In other words, with a one-variable Data Table, you can determine how changing one input changes any number of outputs. You will understand this with the help of an example.

There is a loan of 5,000,000 for a tenure of 30 years. You want to know the monthly payments (EMI) for varied interest rates. You also might be interested in knowing the amount of interest and Principal that is paid in the second year. Analysis with one-variable Data Table needs to be done in three steps − While the keyboard is generally quicker, you shouldn’t completely ignore the mouse. There are also some great time saving mouse shortcuts as well.

In this post we’ll take a look at some of the best Excel mouse time saving tips and tricks. Power query is amazing tool that allows you to import and transform data with ease and helps to create repeatable and robust procedures with your data. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out Power Query. A compilation of the best Excel tips and tricks ranging from beginner to pro that will save you time and make you more productive. Instead of creating different scenarios, you can create a data table to quickly try out different values for formulas. You can create a one variable data table or a two variable data table.

Assume you own a book store and have 100 books in storage. You sell a certain % for the highest price of $50 and a certain % for the lower price of $20. If you sell 60% for the highest price, cell D10 below calculates a total profit of 60 * $50 + 40 * $20 = $3800. To create a one variable data table, execute the following steps. 1. Select cell B12 and type =D10 (refer to the total profit cell).

2. Type the different percentages in column A. When planning or analyzing data in Excel, it’s crucial to understand how changes in your inputs can affect the outcome. Excel offers powerful what-if analysis tools like Scenario Manager, Goal Seek, and Data Tables that let you explore different possibilities without altering your original data. In this article, we will teach you each technique step by step so you can confidently model, forecast, and plan in Excel. To use what-if analysis with Goal Seek in Excel, follow the steps below:

➤ Go to the Data tab, click What-If Analysis, and choose Goal Seek. ➤ In the Goal Seek dialog box: For “Set cell“, select the cell that contains your target outcome, which is B10 (Net Profit). For “To value“, enter your desired net profit, which is 5000. For “By changing cell“, select the input cell that Goal Seek should adjust to reach your target. ➤ Press OK, and Excel will automatically change the input(cell B5) to reach your goal with net profit of $5,000(cell B10). What-if analysis in Excel lets you explore how changes in inputs affect your final results.

Instead of manually changing different values, Excel offers built-in tools that automate the process and help you evaluate various scenarios. There are three main types of what-if analysis: Scenario Manager: It lets you store and switch between multiple sets of input values to compare different outcomes. Goal Seek: This helps you find the exact input needed to reach a specific result. Data Tables: It allows you to test how one or two variables affect your results across a range of values.

How To Make A Data Table For What If Analysis In Excel

People Also Search

Regarding The Data Table To Compare Multiple Results, Do You

Here Is The Article That May Be Helpful To You:

😀 Continue Reading The Article Below To Learn It All.

This Is A Helpful Way To See Things Like Loans,

You Can Enter Your Values In A Column Or Row,