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Compatibility function

VAR

Estimates variance from a sample; still widely typed but VAR.S is the current name.

OccasionalDifficulty 1200 · ProficientUsage rank #206 of 520
Practice · 3 questions →

When to use it

Sample variance. Replaced by VAR.S.

The shape of it

Syntax
=VAR(number1, [number2], ...)

Worked examples

  • Eight values

    =VAR(2,4,4,4,5,5,7,9) → 4.571428571

    The shared eight values.

  • Ten measurements

    =VAR(1345,1301,1368,1322,1310,1370,1318,1350,1303,1299) → 754.2667

    Ten measurements.

  • Back to sd

    =SQRT(VAR(B2:B13)) → 1,420

    Back to the standard deviation.

Worth knowing

  • VAR.S is identical.
  • VARP for populations.
  • Units are squared.

Where it goes wrong

  • #DIV/0! with fewer than two numbers.
  • Flagged by the Compatibility Checker.

Related

FORECASTMODEPERCENTILEQUARTILERANKSTDEV

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