How to Use the CHIDIST Function in Excel

The CHIDIST function in Excel and Google Sheets calculates the one-tailed probability of the chi-squared distribution. This function is particularly useful in statistical analysis for assessing the probability that a specific value would occur within a chi-squared distribution framework.

Excel and Google Sheets CHIDIST Syntax

Both Excel and Google Sheets use the following syntax for the CHIDIST function:

CHIDIST(x, degrees_freedom)
  • x: The value for which the chi-squared distribution is evaluated.
  • degrees_freedom: The number of degrees of freedom in the chi-squared distribution.

Examples of Using CHIDIST Function

For instance, if you are working with a chi-squared distribution that has 5 degrees of freedom and seek to find the probability of the value 8, you would proceed as follows:

Value of x Degrees of Freedom CHIDIST Result
8 5 =CHIDIST(8, 5)

The function will return the probability of obtaining a chi-squared value less than or equal to 8 with 5 degrees of freedom.

Another practical example involves computing the p-value for a chi-squared test statistic in a hypothesis testing situation. Assume you conducted a chi-squared test and obtained a test statistic of 12 with 3 degrees of freedom. Here is how you would use the CHIDIST function to find the corresponding p-value:

Test Statistic Degrees of Freedom CHIDIST Result
12 3 =CHIDIST(12, 3)

The CHIDIST function output indicates the probability of encountering a chi-squared value as extreme as 12 or greater under the null hypothesis assumption.

Utilizing the CHIDIST function in Excel or Google Sheets, you are empowered to effortlessly calculate probabilities tied to chi-squared distributions, aiding in the interpretation of statistical data and the formulation of data-driven decisions.

More information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/chidist-function-c90d0fbc-5b56-4f5f-ab57-34af1bf6897e

Other functions
Returns the beta cumulative distribution function
Returns the inverse of the cumulative distribution function for a specified beta distribution
Returns the individual term binomial distribution probability
Returns the inverse of the one-tailed probability of the chi-squared distribution
Returns the test for independence
Returns the confidence interval for a population mean
Returns covariance, the average of the products of paired deviations
Returns the smallest value for which the cumulative binomial distribution is less than or equal to a criterion value
Returns the exponential distribution
Returns the F probability distribution
Rounds a number down, toward zero
Returns the result of an F-test
Returns the gamma distribution
Returns the inverse of the gamma cumulative distribution
Returns the hypergeometric distribution
Returns the inverse of the lognormal cumulative distribution
Returns the cumulative lognormal distribution
Returns the most common value in a data set
Returns the negative binomial distribution
Returns the inverse of the normal cumulative distribution
Returns the normal cumulative distribution
Returns the standard normal cumulative distribution
Returns the inverse of the standard normal cumulative distribution
Returns the k-th percentile of values in a range
Returns the percentage rank of a value in a data set
Returns the Poisson distribution
Returns the quartile of a data set
Returns the rank of a number in a list of numbers
Estimates standard deviation based on a sample
Calculates standard deviation based on the entire population
Returns the Student's t-distribution
Returns the inverse of the Student's t-distribution
Returns the probability associated with a Student's t-test
Estimates variance based on a sample
Calculates variance based on the entire population
Calculates variance based on the entire population, including numbers, text, and logical values
Returns the one-tailed probability-value of a z-test