How to Use the VARP Function in Excel
Introduction
In Excel and Google Sheets, the VARP function is designed to compute the variance of a population assuming that the provided dataset represents the entire population. This function calculates variance using an entire dataset without sampling.
Syntax
The syntax for the VARP function is consistent across both Excel and Google Sheets:
VARP(number1, [number2], ...)
number1
,number2
, etc., refer to the numbers or the range of cells for which you wish to calculate the population variance.
Examples
Example 1: Simple VARP Calculation
Consider a situation where we have population data in cells A2 to A5:
A | B |
1 | Dataset |
2 | 10 |
3 | 15 |
4 | 20 |
5 | 25 |
To compute the population variance for this data, utilize the formula:
=VARP(A2:A5)
This function will return the population variance for the specified dataset.
Example 2: Using VARP with Multiple Datasets
Assume you have two datasets located in cells A2 to A5 and B2 to B5. To calculate the population variance across both datasets, apply the VARP function in this manner:
=VARP(A2:A5, B2:B5)
This calculates the population variance for the datasets in columns A and B combined.
Example 3: Using VARP with Named Ranges
If you have defined named ranges for your datasets, such as “Data1” for cells A2:A5 and “Data2” for cells B2:B5, you can use these names directly in your VARP function. For example:
=VARP(Data1, Data2)
This approach simplifies formulas especially in complex spreadsheets, calculating the population variance using the specified named ranges.
Conclusion
The VARP function in Excel and Google Sheets proves to be invaluable for calculating the variance in data representing an entire population. The examples and syntax guidelines provided here will assist you in utilizing the VARP function effectively for your data analysis needs.
More information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/varp-function-26a541c4-ecee-464d-a731-bd4c575b1a6b