How to Do Fourier Analysis in Excel

Excel contains a data analysis add-in that allows to to perform a Fourier analysis of a series of numbers. Follow the steps below.

Installing Analysis Toolpak

Install the Excel Analysis ToolPak. Launch Excel and click on the “File”. Select “Options” and then click on “Add-Ins”. Click the drop-down menu next to “Manage” at the bottom of the window and then click “Go”. Click the check-box next to “Analysis ToolPak” and then click “OK”.

analysis toolpak

Enter number for your series.

IMPORTANT: In the Fourier series the data must be in the multiples of 2 and cannot exceed 4096.

Evaluating Fourier series

Click on the “Data” tab then click “Data Analysis” in the “Analysis” group. Choose “Fourier Analysis” and click “OK”. A dialog box will appear with options for the analysis.

data analysis

fourier analysis

Click in the “Input Range” box in the dialog that appears. Click and drag on the spreadsheet to highlight the data you want to analyze.

input range for fourier

Click in the “Output Range” box and then click and drag on the spreadsheet where you want the analysis to appear. Click OK.

Excel fourier output range

Click and drag on the spreadsheet to select the column or row where your Fourier analysis appeared. Click on the “Insert” tab, click “Scatter” and choose “Scatter with Smooth Lines”. The Fourier series will be plotted as a curve on your graph.

insert scatter plot

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