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Statistical function
GAUSS
Returns the probability that a standard normal value falls between the mean and z standard deviations from it.
Rarely usedDifficulty 1450 · AdvancedUsage rank #372 of 520
When to use it
The probability that a standard normal value falls between 0 and z: NORM.S.DIST(z,TRUE) - 0.5.
The shape of it
- Syntax
=GAUSS(z)
Worked examples
The classic 1.96
=GAUSS(1.96) → 0.475002105
Half of the 95% two-sided interval.
One sd
=GAUSS(1) → 0.341344746
About 34% between the mean and one sd.
Zero
=GAUSS(0) → 0
Nothing between 0 and 0.
Worth knowing
- Two-sided probability within ±z is 2*GAUSS(z).
- Old statistics tables print this column.
- Negative z gives a negative result.
Where it goes wrong
- Easy to confuse with the full cumulative probability.
- Text input returns #VALUE!.
Related
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