How to Make a Polynomial Trendline in Excel (2 Easy Ways)

Get FREE Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions!

When outcomes rely on multiple conditions or trends, it’s better to insert polynomial trendlines for Excel Charts. Users can make a polynomial trendline in Excel using two or three ways.

Let’s say we have daily Total Revenue amounts that depend on multiple conditions, and we inserted an Excel Chart. Now, we want to insert a polynomial trendline into the Chart.

Dataset-How to Make a Polynomial Trendline in Excel

In this article, we will demonstrate how to use Excel’s Chart Elements option and Polynomial Equation to make a polynomial trendline in Excel.


Polynomial and Its Expression

Polynomials are expressions containing variables (i.e., x and y) and coefficients (i.e.,a0,a2.. etc.); the expressions allow Arithmetic Operators and positive integer exponentiation. A typical Polynomial Expression is

a0+a1x+a2x2+…+an-1xn-1+anxn


How to Make a Polynomial Trendline in Excel: 2 Easy Ways

Use any of the following methods to insert a polynomial trendline in Excel.


Method 1: Applying Chart Elements Option to Insert a Polynomial Trendline

Excel offers a Chart Elements feature after clicking on the Plus icon beside inserted Charts. The Chart Elements feature contains the Trendline option to insert a desired trendline into the Charts.

Step 1: Highlight the columns in the dataset then go to Insert > Click on any of the Chart types (Insert Column or Bar Chart, Insert Line or Area Chart, etc.) (Here, Insert Scatter or Bubble Chart is chosen).

Chart Elements Option-How to Make a Polynomial Trendline in Excel

Step 2: After inserting the chart, click on the chart. The side Menu bar opens up. Click on the Plus Icon > Arrow Icon beside Trendline (from Chart Elements options) > More Options.

Chart Elements Option

🔺 You can add the trendline by clicking on Chart > Chart Design > Add Chart Element (from Chart Layouts) > Trendline.

Chart Design

Step 3: Excel fetches the Format Trendline window. Mark Polynomial and type 4 in the Order box under Trendline Options. You can display the polynomial equation on the Chart if the situation demands it.

Format Trendline

🔺 Furnish the Chart according to your taste and the outcome may look like the image below.

Trendline Insertion

Read More: How to Find Slope of Polynomial Trendline in Excel


Method 2: Using Polynomial Formula to Make a Trendline

Polynomial expressions hold variables and constants. You can enter any random variable and constant value. Then use them in the expression to find the outcomes. After getting those resultant values, users can insert the desired Chart and trendline.

Step 1: Enter the random constant values as shown in the picture below.

Constants-How to Make a Polynomial Trendline in Excel

Step 2: Paste the following formula into the G4 cell.

=$C$4+$C$5*E4+$C$6*E4^2+$C$7*E4^3+$C$8*E4^4

In the formula C4 = a0 C5= a1 C6= a2  C7= a3  C8= a4

Inserted formula

Step 3: Press ENTER, then drag the Fill Handle to execute the formula in other cells.

Outcomes

Step 4: Repeat Steps 1 to 3 of method 1 to insert a Column Chart and Trendline. Afterward, the final depiction will be similar to the below image.

Column Chart

Read More: How to Create Trend Chart in Excel


Download Excel Workbook


Conclusion

This article demonstrates ways to make a polynomial trendline in Excel using the Chart Elements option and a typical polynomial expression. We hope this article clarifies your understanding of polynomials and their insertion in Excel Charts. Comment if you have further inquiries or have anything to add.


Related Articles


<< Go Back To Trendline in Excel | Excel Charts | Learn Excel

What is ExcelDemy?

ExcelDemy - Learn Excel & Get Excel Solutions Center provides online Excel training , Excel consultancy services , free Excel tutorials, free support , and free Excel Templates for Excel professionals and businesses. Feel free to contact us with your Excel problems.
Maruf Islam
Maruf Islam

MARUF ISLAM is an excellent marine engineer who loves working with Excel and diving into VBA programming. For him, programming is like a superhero tool that saves time when dealing with data, files, and the internet. His skills go beyond the basics, including ABACUS, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Maxsurf, and Hydromax. He got his B.Sc in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET, and now he's switched gears, working as a content developer. In this role, he creates techy content... Read Full Bio

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply

Advanced Excel Exercises with Solutions PDF

 

 

ExcelDemy
Logo