How to Use the EXPONDIST Function in Excel

Welcome to this comprehensive guide on the EXPONDIST function in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. This function is essential for computing the exponential distribution—a probability distribution that models the time between continuously and independently occurring events, happening at a constant average rate.

Syntax

The syntax for the EXPONDIST function is consistent across both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets:

=EXPONDIST(x, lambda, cumulative)
  • x: This is the value at which the distribution is evaluated.
  • lambda: This parameter represents the rate of the distribution.
  • cumulative: This logical value specifies the function’s output. If TRUE, EXPONDIST returns the cumulative distribution function. If FALSE, it outputs the probability density function.

Examples

Example 1: Calculating Probability Density Function

Here, we calculate the probability density function at x=2 with a lambda value of 3 using the EXPONDIST function:

x lambda Result
2 3 =EXPONDIST(2, 3, FALSE)

In Excel or Google Sheets, the formula =EXPONDIST(2, 3, FALSE) should yield approximately 0.111565080074214.

Example 2: Calculating Cumulative Distribution Function

Next, we calculate the cumulative distribution function for x=2 with a lambda value of 3:

x lambda Result
2 3 =EXPONDIST(2, 3, TRUE)

Using the formula =EXPONDIST(2, 3, TRUE) in Excel or Google Sheets, the result should be approximately 0.486582880967408.

These examples illustrate how to utilize the EXPONDIST function in Excel and Google Sheets to calculate the exponential distribution for specified values of x and lambda, whether you need the probability density function or the cumulative distribution function.

More information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/expondist-function-68ab45fd-cd6d-4887-9770-9357eb8ee06a

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 one-tailed probability of the chi-squared distribution
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 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