Excel Tutorial - Part II

Short Description
tutorial but subject to some constraints. For example, what would you do. if you wanted to limit the maximum … and goal seek. Software:. Microsoft Excel …

Website: ocw.mit.edu | Filesize: 96kb

Content
Excel Tutorial - Part II
Purpose: Learn to use the goal seek and equation solver tools in Excel.
Importance: While doing research, you will encounter simple and complex problems alike. Sometimes you will have to solve a simple problem like the cantilevered beam problem that you solved in the first part of this tutorial but subject to some constraints. For example, what would you do if you wanted to limit the maximum stress in the beam to 400psi? Equation solver and goal seek are tools included with Excel that allow you to find a solution for such a problem very quickly.
What to N/A
hand in:
Goals: After this activity, you will be able to:
?Analyze the cantilevered beam problem using equation solver and goal seek
Software: Microsoft ExcelSECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO GOAL SEEK:
In the cantilevered beam problem you learned that changing the input values for the dimensions of the beam and the applied force automatically changes the outputs. Now the following question arises: what if you wanted to limit the maximum stress in the beam to 400psi by changing the thickness of your beam? One way to find an answer for your question is to manually change the value for the thickness of the beam and observe the output for the maximum stress. After some iteration you may find the right value for the thickness that limits your maximum stress to 400psi.
An easier way to do this is by using Goal Seek. Goal seek does the iterations for you until it finds a suitable answer. You access Goal Seek by clicking on Tools->Goal Seek.
Then you fill in the three boxes.
1. Click inside the first box and delete anything that is in there. Then click in the cell of your spreadsheet that contains the cell whose value you want to change. If your maximum stress in on cell B8, then click on (or type in) B8.
2. Move over to the second…