What is the syntax of the VAR.S function?

Statistical Excel 2010 ◉ 10 views

=VAR.S()

The VAR.S function estimates variance based on a sample (ignores logical values and text in the sample).

Applies To: Excel for Microsoft 365Excel for Microsoft 365 for MacExcel 2024Excel 2024 for MacExcel 2021Excel 2021 for MacExcel 2019Excel 2016

=VAR.S(number1,[number2],...)

Hover argument names in the table for details.

Output typeNumber

Popularity25 / 100

VolatileNo

Dynamic ArrayNo

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◧ Arguments

Argument	Type	Required	Description
`number1`	Number	Required	The first number argument corresponding to a sample of a population.
`number2`	Number	Optional	, ... Optional. Number arguments 2 to 254 corresponding to a sample of a population.

▣ Examples

▦ Data

Cell	Value
`A2`	Strength
`A3`	1345
`A4`	1301
`A5`	1368
`A6`	1322
`A7`	1310
`A8`	1370
`A9`	1318
`A10`	1350
`A11`	1303
`A12`	1299
`A13`	Strength
`A14`	1345
`A15`	1301
`A16`	1368
`A17`	1322
`A18`	1310
`A19`	1370
`A20`	1318
`A21`	1350
`A22`	1303
`A23`	1299

Variance for the breaking strength of the tools, when the values in A2:A11 represent only a sample of all the data. VAR.S returns a different result than VAR.P, which treats the range of data as the entire population. =VAR.S(A2:A11)

Result: 754.27

The variance based on the entire population, using the VAR.P function, returns a different result. =VAR.P(A2:A11)

Result: 678.84

§ Remarks

VAR.S assumes that its arguments are a sample of the population. If your data represents the entire population, then compute the variance by using VAR.P.
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 VARA function.
VAR.S uses the following formula: where x is the sample mean AVERAGE(number1,number2,…) and n is the sample size.

✦ Tips

VAR.S assumes that its arguments are a sample of the population. If your data represents the entire population, then compute the variance by using VAR.P.
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 VARA function.
VAR.S uses the following formula: where x is the sample mean AVERAGE(number1,number2,…) and n is the sample size.

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=VAR.S() ☆