Trend line in Numbers? -- "Correlation Project" has one!

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Level 2

372 points

Trend line in Numbers? -- "Correlation Project" has one!

For years, there has been a long-standing, glaring omission of an option to display a "trend line" -- aka regression line -- in Numbers for the iPad. Truly dismaying, even pathetic!

Today, though, I discovered something interesting. If you scroll down through the Templates (they are shown when you select Create a Spreadhseet or tap the + sign), there is one right in the bottom row -- among the Education templates -- called "Correlation Project"!

It includes a trend line! You can even add extra data points and the trend line automatically adjusts.

My questions are: "Where is Numbers getting that information?!" "Is there a hidden option we've all been missing all these years?!" "Is there a hidden Intercept, slope series somewhere?!"

Finally, why does the text entry box here flash every time one tries to move the insertion point to a different spot after doing any typing?! It's headache producing! Another of the many, basic glitches Apple needs to fix!

P.S. Just noticed that the Forum software switched where this was going to be posted! I began with iWork for iOS, but it wants to put it under Numbers. No wonder, many iOS questions end up there-- the posting algorithms seem screwed up!

iPod touch, iOS 9.3.1, Where does all the battery life go?

Posted on May 27, 2017 6:08 AM

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Answer 1

SGIII

Level 8

37,562 points

May 29, 2017 3:51 PM in response to AstroMacMan

Hi,

The trend line is built-in. But, if you want, you can replicate it using FORECAST, INTERCEPT, SLOPE and the many other statistical functions in Numbers described here.

If you want to give feedback to Apple about Numbers for iOS you can go here.

SG

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Answer 2

AstroMacMan Author

Level 2

372 points

Jun 5, 2017 8:56 AM in response to SGIII

Thanks for the reply! Built in where?! 😎

Where is the graph getting that info from?! ??

If it can be built in so easily into that spreadsheet, then it should be available in any spreadsheet (not just ones created out of that template).

I've been using the Intercept and Slope as a workaround, but it's a nuisance to create, and does not automatically expand when the data set is enlarged; instead, you have edit chart references and re-select the data with the new entries each time. Worse, it's irritating to have to do any fiddling especially when compared to the ease of having the trend line option (and different types of curve functions) built in as they are with Numbers and Excel on the Mac.

People have given Apple feedback on this issue for years, pointing out the need for a Trend Line -- I've submitted feedback several times -- and nothing has changed! I mean, really, a summer intern could probably add the feature in a few weeks; an Apple Numbers programmer likely in an afternoon (simply port over that portion of Numbers code and tweak it a bit).

In any event, back to the question. Where is it built in?! Could it be that a Numbers for Mac spreadsheet that has a trend line keeps it when brought over to the iPad?!

What in the world is going on?! 🌍

(And why are my Emoji so HUGE?! 😎)

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Answer 3

AstroMacMan Author

Level 2

372 points

Jun 8, 2017 12:53 PM in response to JohnGross

Yes, a 2-D Scatterplot exists, it's what I use for regression analysis, but where is the option to add a "Trend Line" to the graph?!

I've been using both the penultimate and previous versions on the iPhone and iPad. Neither has a Trend Line option! (I rolled back to the early version because of the disaster that was created by the latest revamps!)

Now, the just released version may have added it, but that's doubtful!

In any event, a trend line shows up in the Correlation Template regardless of which recent version of iOS Numbers is being used, but a Trend Line option is nowhere to be found!

The line appears-- and even adjusts as more data is added-- but only in that template.

So, where is it? And, how is it working its magic?!

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Answer 4

SGIII

Level 8

37,562 points

Jun 8, 2017 1:00 PM in response to AstroMacMan

AstroMacMan wrote:

So, where is it? And, how is it working its magic?!

Some features you can only access on the Mac, but they sync over and "work" in Numbers for iOS too. If you have access to Numbers on a Mac you can set it up a trendline there per my screenshot.

SG

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Answer 5

AstroMacMan Author

Level 2

372 points

Jun 8, 2017 1:08 PM in response to SGIII

Your acreenshots are from a Mac, right?!

There is no way of selecting the regression line in documents based on the correlation project template. Nor do those options from Numbers for the Mac transfer over!

In fact, there's no way of selecting a line in iOS even if one uses the Intercept and Slope functions to create it within iOS!

So, strangely, Numbers for iOS can certainly display and recalculate regression lines, and bring them over from the Mac (I presume that's what been done in the template), but the ACTUAL option remains unavailable on the iPad, iPhone, iOS side of things!

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