I have these points

12 98.84
14 100.53
16 100.35
18 98.39
20 95.5
21 93.47


I need to find the maximum point on that curve with ms excel. Any help?

I can't help ya Cliff, but if you still have an ID at WRH, ask Tones, he's a stat. analysist and uses Excel to its fullest.

The question is stupid i.e. not clear, but I'll give it a try.

put them in 2 columns in excel

highlight them

Menu->Insert->Chart->XY Scatter->Next all the way to finish

You probably know how to get here already. And here's where it gets stupid: You only have a few dots, and it's asking for a maximum on a curve? The best you can do is make a curve fit for these dots, and look for the maximum on the fitting curve.

Right click on any of the dots on the plot, add trend line->type(polynomial)->options(check display equation).

To find the maximum, you are prolly looking at a poly fit. Once you get the equation, maybe you can work it from there, or ask here again.

I tried that and I can't get the correct answer which is

15,100.8

That is the max point on the curve.

Then I don't get it either.

Without any fit, the excel curve gives a max of between 100.6 and 100.7, near 105 (more like 104.7). I don't know where they got 100.8.

Now I think they want you to just look real close at the curve. Right click on the x axis and format gridlines for x, ditto for y.
Then click on the edge of the chart and select chart options, check everything under 'gridlines'.

Math threads rock.

Thanks for the help. I guess its time to email the instructor.

They want you to figure other points on the curve and then plot it. I remember having to do this but that was like 8 years ago so I can't remember the specs. I think I cheated.

Its actually trying to figure out optimal moisture content of soil. The smaller numbers on the left were percentage and the numbers to the right was the weight. Its engineering bullshit.