looking for a formula

[martinjr]

I want to divide 3.9 million over 11 months, starting with 20,000 in first month (with a gradual increase each month) and, when I do a cumulative total for the 11 months, I get the above total 3.9m. What is the formula to work this out, pl?

[Bez]

Assuming that you are working in Excel, enter numbers 1 to 11 in cells A1 to A11 (this is just for reference), enter 20,000 in cell B1, make B12 the sum of cells B1 to B11, Make cell B2 = B1*$C$1 and copy that formula to cells B3 to B11 (so that the formula in cell B3 is B2*$C$1, the forumla in cell B4 is B3*$C$1, etc).

Then go to tools, goal seek and set cell B12 to equal 3,900,000 by changing cell C1.

This gives you a fixed percentage increase each month over the previous month (which is what I assume you mean by a gradual increase each month)

[martinjr]

Bez, brilliant - exactly what I needed.

Rgds and Thx

m