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VAR

See Also

Estimates variance based on a sample.

Syntax

VAR(number1,number2,...)

Number1, number2, ...    are 1 to 30 number arguments corresponding to a sample of a population.

Remarks

• VAR assumes that its arguments are a sample of the population. If your data represents the entire population, then compute the variance using VARP.
• Logical values such as TRUE, FALSE, and text are ignored. If logical values and text must not be ignored, use the VARA worksheet function.
• VAR uses the following formula:

  

  where x is the sample mean AVERAGE(number1,number2,…) and n is the sample size.

Example

Suppose 10 tools stamped from the same machine during a production run are collected as a random sample and measured for breaking strength.

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

How?