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Using Excel Goal Seek for Equations

This document explains how to use the Goal Seek function in Excel to solve equations where an unknown variable is on both sides. It provides an example of using Goal Seek to find the value of X that satisfies the equation X+(1-π/2) = sin X. The document also cautions that Goal Seek may provide different solutions depending on the initial value entered, and gives an example of solving a cubic equation using Goal Seek.

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159 views4 pages

Using Excel Goal Seek for Equations

This document explains how to use the Goal Seek function in Excel to solve equations where an unknown variable is on both sides. It provides an example of using Goal Seek to find the value of X that satisfies the equation X+(1-π/2) = sin X. The document also cautions that Goal Seek may provide different solutions depending on the initial value entered, and gives an example of solving a cubic equation using Goal Seek.

Uploaded by

hnguyen_698971
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Goal Seek Method of Excel

1. How to use Goal Seek Method of Excel


X+ (1-/2) = sin X ; What is X ?
Easiest way is using Trial & Error Method.
If one changes X value at random, one may get the answer.
Left Sidebecomes same as (Right Side when one happens to select X1.571 Exact analysis solution is; X=/2
X
1.000
1.500
1.530
1.570
1.571
1.580
1.600
1.620
1.640
1.660
1.680
1.700
1.720

Left Side Right Side


(Left Side-Right Side
X+(1-/2)
sin X
0.429
0.841
-0.412
0.929
0.997
-0.068
0.959
0.999
-0.040
0.999
1.000
-0.001
1.000
1.000
0.000
1.009
1.000
0.009
1.029
1.000
0.030
1.049
0.999
0.050
1.069
0.998
0.072
1.089
0.996
0.093
1.109
0.994
0.115
1.129
0.992
0.138
1.149
0.989
0.160

This can be obtained using GoalSeek function of Excel.


Before trial, the following table shall be prepared at first.
X
1.000

Left Side Right Side


(Left Side-Right Side
X+(1-/2)
in X
0.429
0.841
-0.412

Data --> What if Analysis -->Goal Seek

Equation Cell
Target Value
Cell of which value is to be changed

After pushing OK, the above table will be changed as follows and one can get the answer of X=1.570
X
1.570

Left Side Right Side


(Left Side-Right Side
X+(1-/2)
in X
0.999
1.000
-0.001

To increase the accuracy, we should modify the parameter as follows;


File --> Option -->Formula -->Max. Valuation (0.0001)
After pushing OK, the above table will be changed as follows and one can get the answer of X=1.571
X
1.571

Left Side Right Side


(Left Side-Right Side
X+(1-/2)
in X
1.000
1.000
0.000

2Example of Application
For Hydraulic calculation using Manning Formula, if one tries to obtain h(m) to achieve flow rate of Q(m3/h),
h (m) is included both in the left side and right side of equation.
In this case, h (m) can be easily obtained by using the goal seek function of Excel in spite of adopting Runge-Kutta method
that we learned at FORTRAN or BASIC class.
Manning Formula
v = 1/n I1/2R2/3
Q/A = 1/n I1/2 (A/S)2/3
Q/(wh) = 1/n I1/2 (wh/(2h+w))2/3
v: Velocity of Fluid (m/s)
n: Manning's Coefficient of Roughness
I: Hydraulic Gradient (slope)
R: Hydraulic Radius(m) = A/S
A: Flow Area (m2) = (w h
S: Wetted Perimeter (m) = (2 h + w)

A (m2)

h (m)

w (m)

3Caution
For example, in case of Cubic Equation, we have three(3) answers in general.
In this case, the result of goal seek differs depending upon the initial value.
While getting the answer of (X-1)(X-2)(X-3)=0 by Goal Seek method, the following result has been obtained.

Initial Value
of X
0
0.9
1.1
1.9
2.1
2.9
3.1
4

Convergence
value of X
(Result)
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
3

Prepared by H. Kiyono
Date
17-Jul-09
Final Rev.
19-Nov-14

olution is; X=/2

nge-Kutta method

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