PEARSON

Returns the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, r, a dimensionless index that ranges from -1.0 to 1.0 inclusive and reflects the extent of a linear relationship between two data sets.

Syntax

PEARSON(array1,array2)

Array1 is a set of independent values.

Array2 is a set of dependent values.

Remarks

• The arguments must be either numbers or names, array constants, or references that contain numbers.
• If an array or reference argument contains text, logical values, or empty cells, those values are ignored; however, cells with the value zero are included.
• If array1 and array2 are empty or have a different number of data points, PEARSON returns the #N/A error value.
• The formula for the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, r, is:

  

  where x and y are the sample means AVERAGE(array1) and AVERAGE(array2).

Example

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

How to copy an example

1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
2. Select the example in the Help topic.

   Note Do not select the row or column headers.

   Selecting an example from Help

3. Press CTRL+C.
4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
5. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas button.

See also:

• INTERCEPT
• LINEST
• RSQ
• SLOPE
• Statistical functions
• STEYX