XL: How to Create a Biorhythm Chart

ID: Q151439

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

It is possible to use Microsoft Excel to create a biorhythm chart. A biorhythm chart tracks the physical, emotional, and intellectual cycles of a person over a 29-day period. These three cycles are further broken down to the following day periods:

   Physical:      23-day period
   Emotional:     28-day period
   Intellectual:  33-day period

MORE INFORMATION

On a chart, these three cycles duplicate a sine wave pattern. Days that fall above the X-axis are said to be good days, and conversely, days that fall below the X-axis are said to be bad. To chart a biorhythm, follow these steps:

  1. Enter the following data in a worksheet:

        A1: Name:           B1:                    C1:
        A2: Birth date:     B2:                    C2:
        A3: Today's Date:   B3:                    C3:
        A4:                 B4:                    C4:
        A5:                 B5: Days Elapsed       C5:
        A6: Period          B6: Since Birth Date   C6: Date
        A7:                 B7:                    C7:
        A8:                 B8:                    C8:

  2. In cell B3, type the following formula to return the current date:

        B3: =TODAY()

     In cell B2, type the date of birth of the person whose biorhythm is
     being charted. In cell B1, type the name.

  3. To create a series that will represent the days in each 29-day
     period, type the following values into the following cells:

        A7: -14
        A8: -13

     Select cells A7:A8. Use the fill handle to fill the cells down
     through cells A9:A35.

  4. In cell B7, type the following formula to calculate the number of
     days that have elapsed between the day in the 29-day period and the
     birth date:

        B7: =$B$3+A7-$B$2

     With cell B7 selected, use the fill handle to fill the formula down
     through cell B35.

  5. To create the dates that fall in the 29-day period, enter the
     following formula in cell C7, and then fill it down to cell C35:

        C7: =$B$3+A7

  6. Type the following data in the worksheet:

        D6: Physical
        D7: =SIN(MOD($B7,23)*2*PI()/23)

        E6: Emotional
        E7: =SIN(MOD($B7,28)*2*PI()/28)

        F6: Intellectual
        F7: =SIN(MOD($B7,33)*2*PI()/33)

     Select cells D7:F7 and fill the formulas down through cells D35:F35.

  7. To create the chart do the following:

     In Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98
     --------------------------------------------

     a. Select the following range of cells on the worksheet: C6:F35.

     b. On the Insert menu, click Chart.

     c. In the Chart Wizard, Step 1, box, under "Chart type," click
        Line, and then click Next.

     d. Under "Select a format for the Line chart," click chart type 1,
        and then click Next.

     e. Click Next in Steps 2 and 3.

     f. In Step 4 click "As new sheet:," and then click Finish.

     g. Double-click the Y-axis. Click the Patterns tab. Under Axis,
        click to select None, and then click OK.

     h. Double-click the Legend. On the Format menu, click the Placement
        tab. Under Type, click to select Bottom, and then click OK.

     i. Double-click the Emotional data line. Click the Patterns
        tab. Under Marker, click to select Custom. Click the Marker
        Style arrow, click the triangle (the third option), and then click
        OK.

     j. Double-click the Intellectual data line. Click the Patterns
        tab. Under Marker, click to select the Custom option button.
        Click the Marker Style arrow, click the circle (the eighth
        option), and then click OK.

     k. On the Chart menu, click Chart Options. Click the Titles tab. In
        the Chart title box, type "Biorhythm Chart" (without the
        quotation marks), and then click OK.

     In versions 5.0 and 7.0
     -----------------------

     a. Select the following range of cells on the worksheet: C6:F35.

     b. On the Insert menu, click Chart, and then As New Sheet. Click
        Next.

     c. In the ChartWizard box, under "Select a chart type," click Line,
        and then click Next.

     d. Under "Select a format for the Line chart," click chart type 1,
        and then click Finish.

     e. Double-click the Y-axis. Click the Patterns tab. Under Axis,
        click to select None, and then click OK.

     f. Double-click the Legend. On the Format menu, click the Placement
        tab. Under Type, click to select Bottom, and then click OK.

     g. Double-click the Emotional data line. Click the Patterns
        tab. Under Marker, click to select Custom. Click the Marker
        Style arrow, click the triangle (the third option), and click
        OK.

     h. Double-click the Intellectual data line. Click the Patterns
        tab. Under Marker, click to select the Custom option button.
        Click the Marker Style arrow, click the circle (the eighth
        option), and then click OK.

     i. On the Insert menu, click Titles. Click to select the Chart
        Title check box next to Chart Title. Click OK. Type "Biorhythm
        Chart" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

REFERENCES

For more information about charting in Microsoft Excel 97, click Contents And Index on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Excel Help, type the following text

   charts, creating

For more information about charting in Microsoft Excel version 7.0, click Answer Wizard on the Help menu and type:

   creating and formatting charts

   chart

Keywords          : kbcode kbprg kbchart PgmHowto 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: January 8, 1999