Microsoft Excel is a power-packed spreadsheet application used widely for business and personal applications. There are so many features that the casual user may not be aware of some simple commands that will improve the look of spreadsheets and aid in their design.

Using Goal Seek

Goal Seek is a powerful tool if a user knows the answer of a calculation that they are trying to find. It replaces trial and error in finding the right answer. For example, Goal Seek works well if the user knows they could only afford a $500-per-month payment. Goal Seek would be the perfect tool to find the exact loan amount or interest rate that would result in a $500 payment.

To use goal seek, click on tools, then goal seek and fill the information in the three cells. First, enter the cell location, or place the cursor on the cell, where the desired number needs to go. Step two, in the box ”to value” enter the amount that you are trying to find. Finally, place the cursor in the cell that needs to change in order to calculate the correct answer.