How do I use the STDEVPA function in Excel?

Description

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], …)

The STDEVPA function syntax has the following arguments:

• Value1, value2, …    Value1 is required, subsequent values are optional. 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.