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Calculates variance based on the entire population.

Syntax

VARP(number1,number2,...)

Number1, number2, ...   are 1 to 30 number arguments corresponding to a population.

Remarks

• VARP assumes that its arguments are the entire population. If your data represents a sample of the population, then compute the variance by using VAR.
• Arguments can either be numbers or names, arrays, or references that contain numbers.
• Logical values, and text representations of numbers that you type directly into the list of arguments are counted.
• If an argument is an array or reference, only numbers in that array or reference are counted. Empty cells, logical values, text, or error values in the array or reference are ignored.
• Arguments that are error values or text that cannot be translated into numbers cause errors.
• If you want to include logical values and text representations of numbers in a reference as part of the calculation, use the VARPA function.
• The equation for VARP is:

  

  where x is the sample mean AVERAGE(number1,number2,…) and n is the sample size.

Example

Suppose all 10 tools stamped from the same machine during a production run are collected and measured for breaking strength.

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