How to Calculate Population Variance Using the VARPA Function in Google Sheets

Have you ever wondered how to calculate the population variance in Google Sheets? Well, look no further! In this article, we will explore the VARPA function, one of the five functions in Google Sheets specifically designed for calculating the population variance.

Understanding the VARPA Function

The VARPA function in Google Sheets allows you to calculate the average of the squared difference from the population mean. It is one of the essential tools for statistical analysis. But before we dive deeper into the VARPA function, let’s take a quick look at the five functions available for calculating variance in Google Sheets:

Sr. No.	Function Name	Category
1	VAR	Structured Data
2	VAR.S	Statistical Data
3	VAR.P	Statistical Data
4	VARPA	Math Function
5	VARA	Population Sample

Now that we know the different functions for variance calculation, let’s focus on learning how to use the VARPA function effectively.

Syntax and Arguments of the VARPA Function

The VARPA function in Google Sheets follows a specific syntax and requires certain arguments. Here’s how it works:

Syntax: VARPA(value1, [value2, …])

Arguments:

• value1: The first value, array, or range reference of the population.
• value2, …: Additional values, arrays, or range references to include in the population.

To help you understand the VARPA function better, let’s explore a few examples of how it evaluates data.

Example 1: Array or Range Reference in the Formula

In this example, we’ll use the VARPA function with a range reference. Consider the following formula:

=VARPA(A2:A10)

As you can see, we have used the range reference A2:A10 within the formula. This will calculate the variance based on the values within this range. You can compare the results in row #11 to understand how the function evaluates different types of data.

Example 2: Numbers Directly Entered within the Formula

Alternatively, you can also directly enter a list of numbers within the formula without using an array or range reference. For example:

=VARPA(445, 448, 447, 455, 457, 469, 474, 482, 484)

In this case, the VARPA function will evaluate the variance based on the numbers provided.

Calculating Population Variance Using Other Methods

Apart from using the VARPA function, there are other built-in functions and operators in Google Sheets that can help you calculate population variance. For instance:

1. Calculate the average (mean) of the values in a range using the AVERAGE function.
2. Calculate the difference of each number from the mean and square it using the ArrayFormula and SUM functions.
3. Divide the sum of squared differences by the number of values using the COUNT function.

By following these steps, you can calculate population variance without solely relying on the VARPA function.

That’s it! Now you have a better understandinssg of the VARPA function and how to use it in Google Sheets for calculating population variance. Keep exploring and enjoy crunching those numbers!

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