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VAR.P

The VAR.P function in Google Sheets calculates the variance of a population. It is a statistical measure used to quantify the spread of data points. By understanding how values in a dataset vary from the mean, you can make meaningful conclusions about the distribution. Dive into our comprehensive guide to master its application.

Function Syntax and Parameters

Syntax: VAR.P(value1, [value2, ...])

Parameters:

  • value1: The first value or range to consider for the variance calculation.
  • value2, ...: [Optional] Additional values or ranges to consider.

Step-by-Step Tutorial

  1. Using VAR.P with individual numbers:

    • Example: =VAR.P(5, 7, 9, 12, 15)
    • Result: 10.4

  2. Using VAR.P with a range of cells:

    • Example: If A1:A5 has the values 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, then =VAR.P(A1:A5) will return 8.

Use Cases and Scenarios

  1. Quality Control: Analyze the variation in product dimensions to ensure consistent manufacturing.
  2. Financial Analysis: Determine the volatility of an investment portfolio.
  3. Educational Assessment: Calculate the spread of test scores to evaluate student performance.

Related Functions

  • VAR.S: Calculate the variance of a sample.
  • STDEV.P: Compute the standard deviation of a population.
  • STDEV.S: Compute the standard deviation of a sample.

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