Syntax
FORECAST.LINEAR(x, known_y, known_x)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| x | Parameter of the FORECAST.LINEAR function. |
| known_y | Parameter of the FORECAST.LINEAR function. |
| known_x | Parameter of the FORECAST.LINEAR function. |
Examples
Q5 revenue projection
Formula
=FORECAST.LINEAR(5, C2:C5, B2:B5)
Projects quarter 5 revenue based on the linear trend of quarters 1-4. If revenue grew by $50K/quarter, this extends that trend.
Demand at a price point
Formula
=FORECAST.LINEAR(25, D2:D30, E2:E30)
Predicts demand when price is set to $25, based on historical price-demand observations.
Headcount planning
Formula
=FORECAST.LINEAR(150, B2:B20, C2:C20)
Estimates headcount needed when revenue reaches $150M, based on historical revenue-headcount data.
Common Errors
#N/A
Known_y and known_x have different lengths.
#DIV/0!
Zero variance in x-values (all the same), making regression undefined.
Tips
Same as FORECAST
FORECAST.LINEAR and FORECAST are identical. The .LINEAR suffix exists because newer versions also offer FORECAST.ETS for exponential smoothing.
For seasonal data use FORECAST.ETS
If your data has seasonal patterns (e.g., retail sales spike in December every year), FORECAST.ETS handles this; FORECAST.LINEAR cannot.
Extrapolation risk
Projecting far beyond your data range is risky. A trend that holds for months 1-12 may not continue to month 36. Use caution with distant forecasts.
Try FORECAST.LINEAR in Viztab
Import your data and use FORECAST.LINEAR with 370+ other formulas. No signup required.
Open Viztab