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:

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:

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