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Compatibility function

STDEV

Estimates standard deviation from a sample; still widely typed but STDEV.S is the current name.

CommonDifficulty 1200 · ProficientUsage rank #168 of 520
Practice · 3 questions →

When to use it

Sample standard deviation. Still widely typed; STDEV.S is the current name with identical results.

The shape of it

Syntax
=STDEV(number1, [number2], ...)
Example
=STDEV(B2:B20)

Worked examples

  • Eight values

    =STDEV(2,4,4,4,5,5,7,9) → 2.13808994

    The shared eight values.

  • Ten measurements

    =STDEV(1345,1301,1368,1322,1310,1370,1318,1350,1303,1299) → 27.46392

    Ten measurements.

  • Relative spread

    =STDEV(B2:B13)/AVERAGE(B2:B13) → 0.142

    Coefficient of variation.

Worth knowing

  • STDEV.S is identical.
  • STDEVP for a full population.
  • Text and blanks are ignored.

Where it goes wrong

  • #DIV/0! with fewer than two numbers.
  • Autocomplete steers to STDEV.S.

Related

FORECASTMODEPERCENTILEQUARTILERANKNORMDIST

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