GROWTH() Function Produces Unexpected Results in Excel 4.0

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel version 4.0, if the const argument to the GROWTH() function is left blank, the resulting values may not be calculated as expected.

WORKAROUND

The solution is to put the value TRUE in the fourth argument (const) or remove the comma placeholders in all occurrences of the GROWTH function on your worksheet. For example: GROWTH(A1:A5,B1:B5,,TRUE) or GROWTH(A1:A5,B1:B5)

The GROWTH function fits an exponential curve to given data using the formula y=b*m^x. If the fourth argument is FALSE then b is set to 1 changing the relationship to y=m^x causing the m values to change. According to the Microsoft Excel Function Reference, if the fourth argument is omitted, the GROWTH function should calculate normally using y=b*m^x. This is only the case if no comma placeholders are included.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel version 4.0. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel for Windows version 4.0a.

MORE INFORMATION

According to the documentation, this argument should default to TRUE if omitted. In some cases, however, it defaults to FALSE, which changes the way GROWTH() is calculated. If comma placeholders are included in the function call without including a specific value of TRUE or FALSE, then Microsoft Excel will treat the const argument as FALSE. If no comma placeholders are entered, then Microsoft Excel will default to TRUE, as stated in the documentation.

In Microsoft Excel version 3.0, the const argument defaults to TRUE in either case; therefore, Microsoft Excel 3.0 worksheets that are opened in Excel 4.0 will produce different values if this argument was left blank and the comma placeholders are included.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel Function Reference," version 4.0, pages 214-215