Using a Spreadsheet Program to Fit a Gaussian Function

Due to their accessibility and relatively quick learning curve, spreadsheet programs (such as Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets) are a common choice for students when faced with data analysis work. As is well known by most physicists, however, these spreadsheet programs cannot always perform all the tasks that may be necessary for analyzing data. One such area where these programs tend to lag is in nonlinear curve fitting. Most of these programs contain a limited basic set of fit functions, such as linear, polynomial, and exponential fits, to name a few. Outside of these basic functions, one either needs to get creative or turn to a more complex data analysis platform that may have a steep learning curve or cost a considerable amount of money, making it inaccessible to students. In this paper, I will present a method to fit a specific nonlinear curve, a Gaussian function, to a set of collected data using Microsoft Excel. © 2023 Author(s).