XL: Example on Use of Solver

ID: Q142130

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0, 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

The Solver add-in that ships with Microsoft Excel is used to find solutions to "what-if" scenarios based on adjustable cells and constraint cells. This article gives an example of how to set up a model on a worksheet and how to use Solver to find a solution to the model based on the constraints in the model.


MORE INFORMATION

Follow these steps to create the model on a worksheet:

  1. Open a new worksheet.


  2. Type the following on the worksheet: 
    
      A1: 1
      A2: -3
      A3:
      A4: =A1*A3^2+A2*A3+2


  3. On the Tools menu, click Solver.

    NOTE: If Solver is not on the Tools menu, you need to make sure the Solver add-in is listed and selected in the Add-ins dialog box.


  4. In the Solver Parameters dialog box, in the Set Target Cell box, enter A4.


  5. Click the Value Of option and set the value to 0.


  6. In the "By Changing Cells" box, enter A3.


  7. In the "Subject to the Constraints" area, click Add.


  8. Type A3 in the "Cell reference" box, click ">=" in the list, and in the Constraint box, type 1.5. Click OK.


  9. Click Solve.


You should get the Solver Results dialog box stating that Solver found a solution and the value in cell A4 should now be 0, or very close to zero (1.04E-07, for example). Click the OK button to return to the worksheet.


REFERENCES

Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

For more information about Solver, click the Index in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text
solver, overview
and then double-click the selected text to go to the "About solving for a value to maximize another value" topic.

Microsoft Excel 97

For more information about Solver, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text
solver, overview
and then double-click the selected text to go to the "About solving for a value to maximize another value" topic.

Microsoft Excel 7.0

For more information about Solver, click Answer Wizard on the Help menu and type:
tell me about finding solutions using Solver

Microsoft Excel 5.0

For more information about Solver, click the Search button in Help and type:
solver

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 8.00 97 xl97

Keywords : kbtool xlwiz
Version : MACINTOSH:; WINDOWS:
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto kbinfo


Last Reviewed: October 30, 1999
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