In some cases, it can also be used to forecast trends. A best-fit line shows the general trend in all the data, ignoring statistical errors and minor exceptions. Visually, a trendline looks somewhat similar to a line chart, but it doesn't connect the actual data points as a line chart does. This analytical tool is most often used to show data movements over a period of time or correlation between two variables. Extend a trendline to forecast future or past trendsĪ trendline, also referred to as a line of best fit, is a straight or curved line in a chart that shows the general pattern or overall direction of the data.How to insert multiple trendlines in the same chart.Nevertheless, there are a few little secrets that make a big difference, and I will share them with you in a moment. Luckily, Microsoft Excel has made inserting a trend line very easy, especially in newer versions. This can be done by adding a trendline to a chart. When plotting data in a graph, you may often want to visualize the general trend in your data. The tutorial explains how to do trend analysis in Excel: how to insert a trendline in a chart, display its equation and get the slope of a trendline.
