How can I calculate instantaneous rate of change in excel?

[nexxusvp]

I have a two columns of data in excel (x) and (y). I want to
calculate instantaneous rate of change for values in (y) with respect
(x). How can I do this?

X Y dy/dx
1 10
2 100 ?
3 1000 ?
4 10000 ?
5 100000 ?

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Not exactly sure what your looking for but maybe:

=IF(A2<>0,B2/A2,"")
copied down

you need to check for a value in A2 because if A2 is empty then you get a
#DIV/0! error.

HTH
Jean-Guy

 

[Dana DeLouis]

If I am not mistaken,

y=10^x

Then...
Dy/Dx =POWER(10,x)*LN(10)

 

[David Biddulph]

Rather than B2/A2, the OP may have wanted =(B3-B2)/(A3-A2)

If the OP wants the gradient at a point, then the increments need to be made
smaller.
[dy/dx is the limit of (delta y/ delta x) as delta x tends to zero]