How can I rearrange this complex formula in Excel to solve for G13?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around rearranging a complex formula in Excel to isolate the variable "G13." Participants explore the mathematical steps required to manipulate the equation, which involves multiple variables and constants. The context includes technical reasoning and mathematical manipulation relevant to Excel users.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in rearranging the formula to solve for G13, providing the original equation and values for the variables.
  • Another participant suggests distributing the minus sign and scanning for appearances of G13 to gather expressions involving it.
  • Some participants propose defining constants (α, β, γ) to simplify the equation, which they substitute back into the original formula.
  • There are discussions about distributing signs correctly and combining terms, with some participants pointing out potential sign errors in earlier calculations.
  • A later reply presents a formula derived using Maxima, providing an alternative expression for G13.
  • Several participants compare their derived expressions, noting that they yield similar results, but discrepancies in numerical values prompt further investigation into potential input errors.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the steps to rearrange the formula but express differing opinions on the correctness of their calculations and results. There is no consensus on the final value of G13, as some participants arrive at different numerical outcomes.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention potential sign errors and the importance of careful distribution in their calculations. There are unresolved discrepancies in the numerical results, indicating that further verification of inputs may be necessary.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals working with complex formulas in Excel, particularly those interested in mathematical manipulation and problem-solving techniques in a technical context.

dipster307
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I an having problems trying arrange the formula below. I want to change it so the formula starts wuth "G13" equals to.

40981.10 = G13 - ( (((G13-B12-C8)*C3) + (B12*B3)) + (((C18-B9)*C5) + ((G13-C18)*C19)) )

The equation above is used in MS Excel, this is why you see the variable G13, B12 etc.
B12 = 34370
C8 = 8105
C3 = 0.4
B3 = 0.2
C18 = 42475
B9 = 7605
C5 = 0.12
C19 = 0.02
Can someone please help.
 
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First step: distribute the minus sign to obtain

40981.10 = G13 - (((G13-B12-C8)*C3) + (B12*B3)) - (((C18-B9)*C5) + ((G13-C18)*C19)).

Next, you have to scan the equation for appearances of G13. Where are they? Do they multiply other numbers? If so, can you gather all those expression in one place?
 
dipster307 said:
I an having problems trying arrange the formula below. I want to change it so the formula starts wuth "G13" equals to.

40981.10 = G13 - ( (((G13-B12-C8)*C3) + (B12*B3)) + (((C18-B9)*C5) + ((G13-C18)*C19)) )

The equation above is used in MS Excel, this is why you see the variable G13, B12 etc.
B12 = 34370
C8 = 8105
C3 = 0.4
B3 = 0.2
C18 = 42475
B9 = 7605
C5 = 0.12
C19 = 0.02
Can someone please help.

Let's define some constants to make them easier to work with. You can define these in excel if you like instead of back subbing.

$\alpha = B12+C8$
$\beta = B12 \cdot B3$
$\gamma = (C18 - B9) \cdot C5$

In case you're wondering I have used an addition sign in $\alpha$ because G13 - B12-C8 = G13 - (B12+C8)[/color]

We can now sub in the constants we've defined above:
40981.10 = G13 -( (((G13 - $\alpha$ )*C3) + $\beta$ + ( $\gamma $ + ((G13-C18)*C19)) )

After distributing the minus sign and clearing up superfluous brackets:
40981.10 = G13 - (G13 - $\alpha$ )*C3 - $\beta$ - ( $\gamma $ + (G13-C18)*C19)You can distribute that minus sign in the last term too. From there it's a case of multiplying out and then combining those terms with G13 in them and those that don't.
 
SuperSonic4 said:
Let's define some constants to make them easier to work with. You can define these in excel if you like instead of back subbing.

$\alpha = B12+C8$
$\beta = B12 \cdot B3$
$\gamma = (C18 - B9) \cdot C5$

In case you're wondering I have used an addition sign in $\alpha$ because G13 - B12-C8 = G13 - (B12+C8)

We can now sub in the constants we've defined above:
40981.10 = G13 -( (((G13 - $\alpha$ )*C3) + $\beta$ + ( $\gamma $ + ((G13-C18)*C19)) )

After distributing the minus sign and clearing up superfluous brackets:
40981.10 = G13 - (G13 - $\alpha$ )*C3 - $\beta$ - ( $\gamma $ + (G13-C18)*C19)You can distribute that minus sign in the last term too. From there it's a case of multiplying out and then combining those terms with G13 in them and those that don't.
So the would the answer be:

40981.10 = G13 - (G13 - α )*C3 - β - ( γ + (G13-C18)*C19)

40981.10 = X

X = G13 – G13*C3 - α*C3 - β - γ + G13*C19 – C18*C19
X = G13 – G13*C3 + G13*C19 - α*C3 - β - γ – C18*C19
X = G13(1 – C3 + C19) - α*C3 - β - γ – C18*C19
X + α*C3 + β + γ + C18*C19 = G13(1 – C3 + C19)

(X + α*C3 + β + γ + C18*C19 ) / (1 – C3 + C19) = G13

However if I put the values in I get 71594.13 = G13.

The answer should be 58965.52, G13 must equal to 58965.52.
So where am I going wrong in the arrangement??
 
dipster307 said:
So the would the answer be:

40981.10 = G13 - (G13 - α )*C3 - β - ( γ + (G13-C18)*C19)

40981.10 = X

X = G13 – G13*C3 - α*C3 - β - γ + G13*C19 – C18*C19
X = G13 – G13*C3 + G13*C19 - α*C3 - β - γ – C18*C19
X = G13(1 – C3 + C19) - α*C3 - β - γ – C18*C19
X + α*C3 + β + γ + C18*C19 = G13(1 – C3 + C19)

(X + α*C3 + β + γ + C18*C19 ) / (1 – C3 + C19) = G13

However if I put the values in I get 71594.13 = G13.

The answer should be 58965.52, G13 must equal to 58965.52.
So where am I going wrong in the arrangement??


You've got some signs muddled up

40981.10 = G13 - (G13 - α )*C3 - β - ( γ + (G13-C18)*C19) -- original equation for reference.

X = G13 – G13*C3 -[/color] α*C3 - β - γ +[/color] G13*C19 –[/color] C18*C19

^ I've put in red where you have the wrong sign.

For the first one you're distributing the minus sign across both terms.: -C3 * - $\alpha$ = C3*$\alpha$ .. I find it helps if you either imagine/put C3 at the front or act like you're distributing a -1 where there is just a minus sign

The second and third ones are a little trickier to spot. I started by eliminating the bracket inside (G13-C18) by expansion before applying the minus sign outside the ($\gamma$ + (G13-C18)*C19) brackets:If we just concentrate on this bit: -($\gamma$ + (G13-C18)*C19)

Expanding out the inside brackets: -($\gamma$ + G13*C19 - C18*C19)

Now it's easier to distribute the minus sign: -$\gamma$ - G13*C19 + C18*C19 (because I am multiplying two negatives)Brought back into the equation as a whole: X = G13 – G13*C3 + $\alpha$*C3 - $\beta$ - $\gamma$ - G13*C19 + C18*C19.

The rest of goes as you worked out but with the sign changes and you end up with: G13 = (X - $\alpha$*C3 + $\beta$ + $\gamma$ - C18*C19 ) / (1 – C3 - C19)

Unfortunately I am about 0.3 out (I get 58965.21) yet I cannot spot where I went wrong but hopefully someone else will be able to see it.

For reference the values I took:
$\alpha = 42475$
$\beta = 6874$
$\gamma = 4184.4$
C3 = 0.4
C18 = 42745
C19 = 0.02
 
dipster307 said:
I an having problems trying arrange the formula below. I want to change it so the formula starts wuth "G13" equals to.

40981.10 = G13 - ( (((G13-B12-C8)*C3) + (B12*B3)) + (((C18-B9)*C5) + ((G13-C18)*C19)) )

The equation above is used in MS Excel, this is why you see the variable G13, B12 etc.
B12 = 34370
C8 = 8105
C3 = 0.4
B3 = 0.2
C18 = 42475
B9 = 7605
C5 = 0.12
C19 = 0.02
Can someone please help.

Hi dipster307, :)

Here is the result obtained using Maxima.

\[G13=\frac{10\,C3\,C8+\left( 10\,B9-10\,C18\right) \,C5+10\,B12\,C3+10\,C18\,C19-10\,B12\,B3-409811}{10\,C3+10\,C19-10}\]

Kind Regards,
Sudharaka.
 
My working (open the spoiler if you want to look at a jumbled mess of variables):

\[40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \bigg[\Big[\big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{B12}-\mathrm{C8})\cdot\mathrm{C3}\big] + (\mathrm{B12}\cdot\mathrm{B3})\Big] + \Big[\big[(\mathrm{C18}-\mathrm{B9})\cdot\mathrm{C5}\big] + \big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{C18})\cdot\mathrm{C19}\big]\Big] \bigg]\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \Big[\big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{B12}-\mathrm{C8})\cdot\mathrm{C3}\big] + (\mathrm{B12}\cdot\mathrm{B3})\Big] - \Big[\big[(\mathrm{C18}-\mathrm{B9})\cdot\mathrm{C5}\big] + \big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{C18})\cdot\mathrm{C19}\big]\Big]\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{B12}-\mathrm{C8})\cdot\mathrm{C3}\big] - (\mathrm{B12}\cdot\mathrm{B3}) - \big[(\mathrm{C18}-\mathrm{B9})\cdot\mathrm{C5}\big] - \big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{C18})\cdot\mathrm{C19}\big]\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \mathrm{G13}\cdot\mathrm{C3}+(\mathrm{B12}+ \mathrm{C8})\cdot\mathrm{C3} - (\mathrm{B12}\cdot\mathrm{B3}) - (\mathrm{C18}-\mathrm{B9})\cdot\mathrm{C5} - \mathrm{G13}\cdot\mathrm{C19}+\mathrm{C18}\cdot \mathrm{C19}\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \mathrm{G13} \cdot \mathrm{C3}+\mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{C3} + \mathrm{C8}\cdot\mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{B3} - \mathrm{C18} \cdot \mathrm{C5}+\mathrm{B9} \cdot \mathrm{C5} - \mathrm{G13} \cdot \mathrm{C19}+\mathrm{C18}\cdot \mathrm{C19}\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13}(1 - \mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{C19})+\mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{C3} + \mathrm{C8}\cdot\mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{B3} - \mathrm{C18} \cdot \mathrm{C5}+\mathrm{B9} \cdot \mathrm{C5}+\mathrm{C18}\cdot \mathrm{C19}\]
\[\Rightarrow\mathrm{G13} = \frac{40\,981.10 - \mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{C8}\cdot\mathrm{C3} + \mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{B3} + \mathrm{C18} \cdot \mathrm{C5}-\mathrm{B9} \cdot \mathrm{C5}-\mathrm{C18}\cdot \mathrm{C19}}{1 - \mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{C19}}\]

And after comparing my solution with SuperSonic4's, they appear to be identical. And I get ~58965.52 in both cases, so I'm guessing that some number got entered incorrectly somewhere.
 
Reckoner said:
My working (open the spoiler if you want to look at a jumbled mess of variables):

\[40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \bigg[\Big[\big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{B12}-\mathrm{C8})\cdot\mathrm{C3}\big] + (\mathrm{B12}\cdot\mathrm{B3})\Big] + \Big[\big[(\mathrm{C18}-\mathrm{B9})\cdot\mathrm{C5}\big] + \big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{C18})\cdot\mathrm{C19}\big]\Big] \bigg]\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \Big[\big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{B12}-\mathrm{C8})\cdot\mathrm{C3}\big] + (\mathrm{B12}\cdot\mathrm{B3})\Big] - \Big[\big[(\mathrm{C18}-\mathrm{B9})\cdot\mathrm{C5}\big] + \big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{C18})\cdot\mathrm{C19}\big]\Big]\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{B12}-\mathrm{C8})\cdot\mathrm{C3}\big] - (\mathrm{B12}\cdot\mathrm{B3}) - \big[(\mathrm{C18}-\mathrm{B9})\cdot\mathrm{C5}\big] - \big[(\mathrm{G13}-\mathrm{C18})\cdot\mathrm{C19}\big]\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \mathrm{G13}\cdot\mathrm{C3}+(\mathrm{B12}+ \mathrm{C8})\cdot\mathrm{C3} - (\mathrm{B12}\cdot\mathrm{B3}) - (\mathrm{C18}-\mathrm{B9})\cdot\mathrm{C5} - \mathrm{G13}\cdot\mathrm{C19}+\mathrm{C18}\cdot \mathrm{C19}\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13} - \mathrm{G13} \cdot \mathrm{C3}+\mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{C3} + \mathrm{C8}\cdot\mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{B3} - \mathrm{C18} \cdot \mathrm{C5}+\mathrm{B9} \cdot \mathrm{C5} - \mathrm{G13} \cdot \mathrm{C19}+\mathrm{C18}\cdot \mathrm{C19}\]
\[\Rightarrow40\,981.10 = \mathrm{G13}(1 - \mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{C19})+\mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{C3} + \mathrm{C8}\cdot\mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{B3} - \mathrm{C18} \cdot \mathrm{C5}+\mathrm{B9} \cdot \mathrm{C5}+\mathrm{C18}\cdot \mathrm{C19}\]
\[\Rightarrow\mathrm{G13} = \frac{40\,981.10 - \mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{C8}\cdot\mathrm{C3} + \mathrm{B12} \cdot \mathrm{B3} + \mathrm{C18} \cdot \mathrm{C5}-\mathrm{B9} \cdot \mathrm{C5}-\mathrm{C18}\cdot \mathrm{C19}}{1 - \mathrm{C3} - \mathrm{C19}}\]

And after comparing my solution with SuperSonic4's, they appear to be identical. And I get ~58965.52 in both cases, so I'm guessing that some number got entered incorrectly somewhere.

Thanks everyone for helping out, I just need to keeping practicing my maths skills a bit more :)
 

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