VAR

Estimates variance based on a sample.

Syntax

VAR(number1,number2, ...)

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

Remarks

• VAR assumes that its arguments are a sample of the population. If your data represents the entire population, then compute the variance using VARP.
• Logical values such as TRUE and FALSE and text are ignored. If logical values and text must not be ignored, use the VARA worksheet function.
• VAR uses the following formula:

  

Example

Suppose 10 tools stamped from the same machine during a production run are collected as a random sample and measured for breaking strength. The sample values (1345, 1301, 1368, 1322, 1310, 1370, 1318, 1350, 1303, 1299) are stored in A2:E3, respectively. VAR estimates the variance for the breaking strength of the tools.

VAR(A2:E3) equals 754.3