TABLE OF CONTENTS The Solver is an optimization package that finds a maximum, minimum, or specified value of a target cell by varying the values in one or several changing cells. It uses an iterative process, beginning with trial values of the coefficients. The value of each coefficient is changed by a suitable increment, the new value of the function is then calculated, and the change in the value of the function is used to calculate improved values for each of the coefficients. The process is repeated until the desired results are obtained. The Solver employs the gradient methods or the simplex method to find the optimum set of coefficients.
Constraints can be applied to the Solver using the Add button under the heading "Subject to the Constraints". The Solver is an Excel Add-in, a separate software package. To save memory, it may not automatically be opened whenever Excel is started. To install the Solver, choose Add-Ins from the Tools menu. Then select Solver Add-Ins from the resulting Add-Ins dialog box. Once the Solver feature has been installed, it will remain installed unless it is removed by reversing the above procedure.
To use the Solver to perform multiple non-linear least squares curve fitting, the procedure is as follows:
Start with a worksheet containing the data (independent variable X and the dependent variable Y obsd)to be fitted.
Add a column containing Y calc values, calculated by...
