Goal Seek works differently from scenarios and data tables in that it takes a result and determines possible input values that produce that result. Scenarios and data tables take sets of input values and determine possible results. There are three kinds of what-if analysis tools in Excel: scenarios, data tables, and Goal Seek. For example, you can use a data table to vary the interest rate and term length that are used in a loan to determine possible monthly payment amounts. What-if analysis changes the values in cells to see how those changes will affect the outcome of formulas on the sheet. When you use data tables, you are doing what-if analysis. Data tables are part of a suite of commands that are called What-if Analysis tools.
