STDEVPA

Calculates standard deviation based on the entire population given as arguments, including text and logical values. The standard deviation is a measure of how widely values are dispersed from the average value (the mean).

Syntax

STDEVPA(value1,value2,...)

Value1, value2, ... are 1 to 255 values corresponding to a population. You can also use a single array or a reference to an array instead of arguments separated by commas.

Remarks

• STDEVPA assumes that its arguments are the entire population. If your data represents a sample of the population, you must compute the standard deviation by using STDEVA.
• For large sample sizes, STDEVA and STDEVPA return approximately equal values.
• The standard deviation is calculated using the "n" method.
• Arguments can be the following: numbers; names, arrays, or references that contain numbers; text representations of numbers; or logical values, such as TRUE and FALSE, in a reference.
• Text representations of numbers that you type directly into the list of arguments are counted.
• Arguments that contain TRUE evaluate as 1; arguments that contain text or FALSE evaluate as 0 (zero).
• If an argument is an array or reference, only values in that array or reference are used. Empty cells and text 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 do not want to include logical values and text representations of numbers in a reference as part of the calculation, use the STDEVP function.
• STDEVPA uses the following formula:

  

  where x is the sample mean AVERAGE(value1,value2,…) and n is the sample size.

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:

• DSTDEV
• DSTDEVP
• Statistical functions
• STDEVA
• STDEVP