Table of Contents

Goal Seek

If you know the result you want from a formula use Goal Seek in Excel to find the input value that produces this formula result.

Goal Seek Example 1

Use Goal Seek in Excel to find the grade on the fourth exam that produces a final grade of 70.

1. The formula in cell B7 calculates the final grade.

Formula Result

2. The grade on the fourth exam in cell B5 is the input cell.

Input Cell

3. On the Data tab in the Forecast group click What-If Analysis.

Click What-If Analysis

4. Click Goal Seek.

Click Goal Seek

The Goal Seek dialog box appears.

5. Select cell B7.

6. Click in the ‘To value’ box and type 70.

7. Click in the ‘By changing cell’ box and select cell B5.

8. Click OK.

Goal Seek Parameters

Result: a grade of 90 on the fourth exam produces a final grade of 70.

Goal Seek Solution

Goal Seek Example 2

Use Goal Seek in Excel to find the loan amount that produces a monthly payment of $1500.

1. The formula in cell B5 calculates the monthly payment.

PMT function

Explanation: the PMT function calculates the payment for a loan. If you’ve never heard of this function before that’s OK. The higher the loan amount the higher the monthly payment. Assume you can only afford $1500 a month. What is your maximum loan amount?

2. The loan amount in cell B3 is the input cell.

Loan Amount

3. On the Data tab in the Forecast group click What-If Analysis.

Click What-If Analysis

4. Click Goal Seek.

Click Goal Seek

The Goal Seek dialog box appears.

5. Select cell B5.

6. Click in the ‘To value’ box and type -1500 (negative you are paying out money).

7. Click in the ‘By changing cell’ box and select cell B3.

8. Click OK.

Goal Seek Variables

Result: a loan amount of $250187 produces a monthly payment of $1500.

Goal Seek Found a Solution

Goal Seek Precision

Goal Seek returns approximate solutions. You can change the iteration settings in Excel to find a more precise solution.

1. The formula in cell B1 calculates the square of the value in cell A1.

Formula Cell

2. Use Goal Seek to find the input value that produces a formula result of 25.

Goal Seek Example

Result: Excel returns an approximate solution.

Approximate Solution

3. On the File tab click Options Formulas.

4. Under Calculation options decrease the Maximum Change value by inserting some zeros. The default value is 0.001.

Maximum Change Value

5. Click OK.

6. Use Goal Seek again. Excel returns a more precise solution.

More Precise Solution

More about Goal Seek

There are many problems Goal Seek can’t solve. Goal Seek requires a single input cell and a single output (formula) cell. Use the Solver in Excel to solve problems with multiple input cells. Sometimes you need to start with a different input value to find a solution.

1. The formula in cell B1 below produces a result of -0.25.

Formula

2. Use Goal Seek to find the input value that produces a formula result of +0.25.

Goal Seek Problem

Result: Excel can’t find a solution.

Goal Seek Status

3. Click Cancel.

4. Start with an input value greater than 8.

Input Value Greater Than 8

5. Use Goal Seek again. Excel finds a solution.

Goal Seeking in Excel

Explanation: y = 1 / (x – 8) is discontinuous at x = 8 (dividing by 0 is not possible). In this example Goal Seek cannot reach one side of the x-axis (x>8) if it starts on the other side of the x-axis (x<8) or vice versa.

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