Microsoft Excel can generate trend lines based on data you provide, and in doing do, calculates the equation of the trend line. This equation can be accessed using Excel's built-in Visual Basic tools.

For example, the formula "=A1B1 + C2" is cryptic, while "SlopeX + Y_Intercept" is recognizable as the equation of a line. Excel documentation refers to variables as "Names," so when you want to ...