ZTEST

Returns the one-tailed probability-value of a z-test. For a given hypothesized population mean, μ₀, ZTEST returns the probability that the sample mean would be greater than the average of observations in the data set (array)— that is, the observed sample mean.

To see how ZTEST can be used in a formula to compute a two-tailed probability value, see "Remarks" below.

Syntax

ZTEST(array,μ₀,sigma)

Array is the array or range of data against which to test μ₀

μ₀ is the value to test.

Sigma is the population (known) standard deviation. If omitted, the sample standard deviation is used.

Remarks

If array is empty, ZTEST returns the #N/A error value.

ZTEST is calculated as follows when sigma is not omitted:

Formula

or when sigma is omitted:

Formula

where x is the sample mean AVERAGE(array); s is the sample standard deviation STDEV(array); and n is the number of observations in the sample COUNT(array).

ZTEST represents the probability that the sample mean would be greater than the observed value AVERAGE(array), when the underlying population mean is μ₀. From the symmetry of the Normal distribution, if AVERAGE(array) < μ₀, ZTEST will return a value greater than 0.5.

The following Excel formula can be used to calculate the two-tailed probability that the sample mean would be further from μ₀ (in either direction) than AVERAGE(array), when the underlying population mean is μ₀:

=2 * MIN(ZTEST(array,μ₀,sigma), 1 - ZTEST(array,μ₀,sigma)).

Example

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

Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
Select the example in the Help topic. Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
Press CTRL+C.
In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.

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Formula	Description (Result)
=ZTEST(A2:A11,4)	One-tailed probability-value of a z-test for the data set above, at the hypothesized population mean of 4 (0.090574)
=2 * MIN(ZTEST(A2:A11,4), 1 - ZTEST(A2:A11,4))	Two-tailed probability-value of a z-test for the data set above, at the hypothesized population mean of 4 (0.181149)
=ZTEST(A2:A11,6)	One-tailed probability-value of a z-test for the data set above, at the hypothesized population mean of 6 (0.863043)
=2 * MIN(ZTEST(A2:A11,6), 1 - ZTEST(A2:A11,6))	Two-tailed probability-value of a z-test for the data set above, at the hypothesized population mean of 6 (0.273913)