# What-If Analysis
What-If Analysis is the process of analyzing how changes in different values
affect the final value or the result of a given task. It involves the process of
forecasting on the basis of certain assumed but realistic data/figures.
What-If tool uses Data> Multiple Operations and is a planning tool for what-if
questions. In this, the output is not shown in the same cells, whereas it uses a
drop-down list to display the output depending upon the input.
What-if analysis tool is very helpful when we want to know how much profit
we earn for a particular product for a series of selling units.
Following steps are used for what-if analysis tool:
Let us calculate with one formula and one variable:
Step 1. Enter the data in the cells and then enter a formula to calculate a result
from values in other cells.
Step 2. Create an array of input values on the basis of which the output is to be
generated using the formula.
Step 3. Select the cell range of input array and output array.
Step 4. Click on Data>Multiple Operations. Multiple operations dialog window
Appears.
Step 5. Enter the cell address in the Formulas box from the sheet which
contains the formula.
Step 6. Now, enter the cell address of the cell which is a variable and is used
in the formula in Column input cell box.
Step 7. Click on OK will generate all the possible outputs based on the formula.
* LibreOffice Calc offers three types of tools for What-if Analysis:
1. Scenarios
2. Goal Seek
3. Solver
* What-If Analysis with Scenarios
Scenarios are a what-if analysis tool which help to create different target-based
analysis. Scenarios can be defined by a set of multiple values for the same cell
in the existing dataset that can be used for performing calculations and data
analysis.
What-if scenario is a set of values that can be used within the calculations in
the spreadsheet. A name is given to the scenario and several scenarios can be
created on the same sheet. It is used to explore and compare various
alternatives depending on changing conditions. It can be used in the beginning
of any project to optimize the output. This tool is used to predict the output
while changing the inputs which reflects the output and thus one can choose
the best plan of action based on it.
Follow the following steps to create scenario.
Step 1. Select the cells which contains values in the sheet that needs to be
changed. To select multiple cells, hold Ctrl key and click on the cell to be
selected.
Step 2. Choose Tools>Scenarios, scenario dialog window will appear.
Step 3. Enter a name for the new scenario and leave the other fields
unchanged.
Step 4. Click on OK button.
Step 5. This will create a new scenario which is activated automatically.
* What-if Analysis with Goal Seek
Goal Seek is another important what-if analysis tool offered by Calc. It helps to
do backward calculation and analysis of the input to obtain the desired result
or output. In other words, it analyzes the output obtained and then shows
what input values are needed to generate that result.
It allows the user to analyze the impact of a change made on any data value
due to any change made in another associated data value. This is why Goal
Seek is also called the Back-solving method.
Goal Seek tool needs the following three options:
Formula cell: In the Formula cell, the reference of the cell which contains the
formula we want to resolve is entered. It contains the current cell reference.
Target value: It refers to the Target value that we want to achieve through the
entered formula.
Variable cell: This cell contains the unknown value that we want to find and
adjust in order to achieve the desired value.
Goal Seek is the reverse process of Scenarios.
Follow the following steps to use Goal seek tool.
Step 1. Enter the values in the worksheet.
Step 2. Write the formula in the cell where the calculation has to be used.
Step 3. Place the cursor in the formula cell, choose Tools > Goal Seek.
Step 4. The Goal seek dialog window will appear, the Formula cell box will have
the correct formula.
Step 5. Place the cursor on the Variable cell box and click on the cell that
contains the value to be changed.
Step 6. Enter the desired result in the Target value box.
Step 7. Click on OK button.
* Solver (From Preeti Arora)
