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Returns the inverse of the F probability distribution. If p = FDIST(x,...), then FINV(p,...) = x.

The F distribution can be used in an F-test that compares the degree of variability in two data sets. For example, you can analyze income distributions in the United States and Canada to determine whether the two countries have a similar degree of income diversity.

Syntax

FINV(probability,degrees_freedom1,degrees_freedom2)

Probability   is a probability associated with the F cumulative distribution.

Degrees_freedom1   is the numerator degrees of freedom.

Degrees_freedom2   is the denominator degrees of freedom.

Remarks

• If any argument is nonnumeric, FINV returns the #VALUE! error value.
• If probability < 0 or probability > 1, FINV returns the #NUM! error value.
• If degrees_freedom1 or degrees_freedom2 is not an integer, it is truncated.
• If degrees_freedom1 < 1 or degrees_freedom1 ≥ 10^10, FINV returns the #NUM! error value.
• If degrees_freedom2 < 1 or degrees_freedom2 ≥ 10^10, FINV returns the #NUM! error value.

FINV can be used to return critical values from the F distribution. For example, the output of an ANOVA calculation often includes data for the F statistic, F probability, and F critical value at the 0.05 significance level. To return the critical value of F, use the significance level as the probability argument to FINV.

Given a value for probability, FINV seeks that value x such that FDIST(x, degrees_freedom1, degrees_freedom2) = probability. Thus, precision of FINV depends on precision of FDIST. FINV uses an iterative search technique. If the search has not converged after 100 iterations, the function returns the #N/A error value.

Example

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