IBM Lotus Symphony


Using Variables in Equations

Using variables in equations, you can calculate a value that, as part of a formula, leads to the result you specify for the formula. You thus define the formula with several fixed values and one variable value and the result of the formula.

You can define a formula with several fixed values and one variable value and calculate the result of the formula. For example, to calculate annual interest, create a table with the values for the capital (C), number of years (n), and interest rate (i). The formula is: I = C * n* i / 100.

You can also enter the formula using the variable names as entered in the headings cells:

= 'Capital (C)' * 'Years (n)' * 'Interest rate (i)' / 100.

Each name must be spelled in the formula exactly as it is seen in the cell, and the name must be enclosed in single quotes.

Finding a target value

In this example, the investment capital of $150,000 and an interest rate of 7.5% is calculated to result in annual interest income of $11,250. The cells are formatted after calculation.

  1. Place the cursor in cell E5, and click Tools > Solve Equations. The correct cell is already entered in the field Formula Cell.
  2. Click Variable Cell. In the sheet, click the cell (A5) that contains the value to be changed.
  3. Enter the expected result of the formula in the Target Value field. In this example, the value is 15,000. Click OK.
  4. A window opens and the result is indicated. Click Yes to enter the result in cell A5.

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