VARA

Formulas / VARA
Calculate the variation in a sample of data.
VARA(value1, [value2], ...)
  • number1 - required, a number or reference
  • number2 - [OPTIONAL] a number or reference

Examples

  • =VARA(A2:A11)

    The VARA function is used to estimate the variance of a set of values. For example, this formula can be used to estimate the variance for the breaking strength of the tools being tested. The result for this example would be 754.26667.

  • =VARA(B2:B11)

    The VARA function is useful when trying to understand the spread and variability of a dataset. The function takes a range of cells as an argument, and returns the estimated variance of the values in those cells. For example, this formula can be used to estimate the variance of the breaking strength of tools in the second column of the table.

    • The VARA function can also be used to compare the variances of two different sets of data. For example, if you wanted to compare the variance of the breaking strength of different types of tools, you could use the function to estimate the variance for each set of values. The result of this example would be two different values, one for each set of data.

    The VARA function is also useful for analyzing the distribution of a dataset. For example, if you wanted to see if the tools in the dataset had a normal or skewed distribution, you could compare the variance of the dataset to the mean of the dataset. If the variance was greater than the mean, then the dataset would be considered to have a skewed distribution.

Summary

The VARA function calculates the variance of a sample from a population, taking into account only numerical values and ignoring empty cells and text values.

  • The VARA function includes the "NA" text in cell C8 in the variance estimate.
  • The VARA function ignores hardcoded logical values when calculating the variance.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VARA function?
The VARA function estimates the variance of a sample from a population.
What type of arguments does the VARA function take?
The VARA function can take numerical arguments, name arguments, array arguments, reference arguments, and text representations of numbers directly entered into the argument. It can also take logical values directly entered into the argument.
Does the VARA function ignore empty cells and text values?
Yes, the VARA function ignores empty cells and text values in the argument.
Are logical values and text representations of numbers counted?
Yes, logical values and text representations of numbers directly entered into the argument are counted.

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