smoothing integer data
 

Hello, I have Excel 2007

I have a series of increasing numbers which have been trucated (rounded
down) to integers , eg

2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6 etc

The decimal part of the numbers has been 'lost' and cannot be recovered.

I want to 'smooth' the data to estimate the original numbers to 1 decimal
place, eg to give someting like

2.0, 2.4, 2.8, 3.1, 3.3, 3.6, 3.9, 4.5, 5.1, 5.7, 6.1, 6.4, 6.8,
....

I am ok at maths and could devise an algorithm to do this, but I wonder if
there is an Excel function which can do it more easily. I have looked at the
functions and cannot see anything obvious, but I might have missed
something.

Any ideas warmly welcomed.

Thanks

K

smoothing integer data
 

Hi,

This can only ever be an approximation, but the following should give you
something to work with.
Assuming your truncated data is in A1:A20, enter the following in B1 and
drag down

=A1+(COUNTIF($A$1:A1,A1)-1)/COUNTIF($A$1:$A$20,A1)

or use

=A1+(COUNTIF($A$1:A1,A1)-1)/COUNTIF($A$1:A1,A1)

for a slightly different set of numbers

Dave

url:http://www.ureader.com/msg/10355706.aspx

smoothing integer data - Thanks
 

Dave

This seems to work quite nicely - thanks. I'm not yet sure how it works,
but I will figure it out !!

I've plotted the original data alongside the smoothed data for both your
suggestions & they are both very good. The 2nd option might be better for
me as it does not require the row number of the last entry (your $A$20), and
my data is updated regularly.

Thanks again

K


"Dave Curtis" wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

This can only ever be an approximation, but the following should give you
something to work with.
Assuming your truncated data is in A1:A20, enter the following in B1 and
drag down

=A1+(COUNTIF($A$1:A1,A1)-1)/COUNTIF($A$1:$A$20,A1)

or use

=A1+(COUNTIF($A$1:A1,A1)-1)/COUNTIF($A$1:A1,A1)

for a slightly different set of numbers

Dave

url:http://www.ureader.com/msg/10355706.aspx