Performing logarithmic multiple regression with Excel?

Question

Is it possible to perform logarithmic regression on multiple variables with Excel? If I just have a single independent variable than it's very easy to do this using the best-fit line option (it lets me switch from linear to logarithmic). But this feature does not work for multiple variable regression and the regression feature under the Data Analysis plugin only seems to support linear multiple regression.

However, I have a table that has 3 columns containing 3 independent variables and 1 column with the corresponding dependent variable (outcome). I'm pretty sure there's a logarithmic relationship, but I'm not sure how to use Excel to get the coefficients. Thanks!

Answer 1

If by logarithmic regression you mean the model log(y) = m1.x1 + m2.x2 + ... + b + (Error), you can use LOGEST and GROWTH with multiple independent variables. Note that if you want the estimated coefficients m1, m2, ..., b from LOGEST, you'll have to enter the formula into multiple cells as an array. See Excel's online help for the steps required.

Alternatively, you can log-transform your dependent variable and use LINEST/TREND which does the same thing under the hood.

ObWarning: Excel isn't the best regression package in the world. See, for example, McCullough & Heiser (2008), On the accuracy of statistical procedures in Microsoft Excel 2007, Comp Stats & Data Analysis 52(10) pp.4570-4578.