This allows you to work backwards to get the desired cell output

While Excel’s long list of features is one of the most appealing features of Microsoft’s spreadsheet application, there are a few underutilized gems that enhance these features. One tool that is often overlooked is What-If Analysis.

Excel's What-If Analysis tool is divided into three main components. The component discussed here is the powerful Goal Seek feature that lets you work backward from a function and determine the inputs needed to get the desired output from a formula in a cell. Read on to learn how to use Excel's What-If Analysis Goal Seek tool.

Suppose you want to take out a mortgage to buy a house and you are concerned about how the interest on the loan will affect your annual payments. The mortgage amount is $100,000 and you will repay the loan over the course of 30 years.