Statistical functions

These functions perform statistical calculations and require numeric expressions as arguments. The numeric expression can be a number, cell reference, or range. Unless otherwise stated, statistical functions result in a number.

  AVERAGE
COUNT
COUNT2
MAX (Maximum)
MIN (Minimum)
PRODUCT
STDEV (Standard Deviation)
SUM
VAR (Variance)

AVERAGE

Calculates the average of a set of values and returns the result. An average is calculated by adding up all values and then dividing by the number of values.

Format: =AVERAGE(value1,value2,...)

Argument:
value: a number, cell reference, cell range, or numeric expression

Example: In the spreadsheet below, =AVERAGE(A1..A4) adds the numbers in the specified cells, divides by 4 (the number of cells), and returns 17.5. =AVERAGE(A1..A4,100) adds the numbers, adds 100, divides the total by 5, and returns 34.

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COUNT

Returns the number of arguments given. Does not count blank cells.

Format: =COUNT(value1,value2,...)

Argument:
value: any text, number, cell reference, cell range, or numeric expression that contains data. You can combine different types of values in the same list.

Example: =COUNT(10,20,B2) returns 3 (if cell B2 contains a value).

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COUNT2

Reads the value in the first argument, searches the remaining arguments for occurrences of that value, and displays the count in the cell or field specified.

Format: =COUNT2(search value,value1,...)

Arguments:
search value: a number or cell reference
value: a number, cell reference, or cell range

Example: =COUNT2(10,20,10,34,10) returns 2, because the first argument, 10, occurs twice in the arguments that follow.

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MAX (Maximum)

Returns the largest number in the list of arguments (the maximum value found).

Format: =MAX(number1,number2,...)

Argument:
number: a number, cell reference, or cell range

Example: =MAX(5,-2.2,-11) returns 5.

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MIN (Minimum)

Returns the smallest number in the list of arguments (the minimum value found).

Format: =MIN(number1,number2,...)

Argument:
number: a number, cell reference, or cell range

Example: =MIN(10,0,-20.5,0.25) returns -20.5.

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PRODUCT

Calculates the product of the numbers in the argument list.

Format: =PRODUCT(number1,number2,...)

Argument:
number: a number, cell reference, or cell range

Example: =PRODUCT(5,10,2,1) multiplies all the arguments and returns 100.

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STDEV (Standard Deviation)

Calculates the standard deviation of a population based on a sample given as a list of arguments. A standard deviation is a measure of how widely values are dispersed from the average value (the mean).

Format: =STDEV(number1,number2,...)

Argument:
number: a number, cell reference, or cell range

Example: =STDEV(15,21,30,56.886) returns 18.500 (when using Fixed format with a precision of 3).

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SUM

Adds one or more values and returns the result.

Format: =SUM(value1,value2,...)

Argument:
value: a number, cell reference, cell range, or numeric expression

Example: In the spreadsheet below, =SUM(A1..A4) adds the numbers in the specified cells and returns 70. =SUM(A1..A4,100) adds the numbers, adds 100, and returns 170.

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VAR (Variance)

Calculates the variance of a population based on a sample given as a list of arguments.

Format: =VAR(number1,number2,...)

Argument:
number: a number, cell reference, or cell range

Example: =VAR(115,121,130,156) returns 327.

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Related topic

  Alphabetical list of functions

 
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