STDEV function

Excel STDEV Function is a useful tool for anyone working with data in Microsoft Excel. It allows you to calculate the standard deviation of a set of numbers, which is a statistical measure that helps you understand how spread out your data is. In simple words, it tells you how much the values in your data set vary from the average. This can be helpful in various fields, from science and engineering to finance and business.

Syntax

STDEV(number1, [number2], …)

Arguments

number1The first number or range of numbers you want to include in the standard deviation calculation.
[number2](Optional) Additional numbers or ranges you want to include in the standard deviation calculation. You can add more numbers as needed.

How to use

The STDEV function is quite simple to use. You provide it with the numbers you want to calculate the standard deviation for. You can input these numbers directly or refer to a range of cells where the numbers are located. Here are a few examples of how to use the STDEV function:

This formula calculates the standard deviation for the values in cells A1 to A5.

This formula does the same as the previous example. It calculates the standard deviation for the values in the range A1 to A5.

You can also calculate the standard deviation for multiple ranges by providing them as separate arguments.

Once you enter the STDEV formula and press Enter, Excel will return the standard deviation of the provided numbers or ranges. It gives you a measure of how much the data varies from the average, helping you make informed decisions and draw insights from your data.

Examples

Let’s look at a practical example:

Data58121520

This formula calculates the standard deviation of the data, and the result is approximately 5.3 (rounded to one decimal place). It tells you that the data points are, on average, about 5.3 units away from the mean, which is around 12.

By using the STDEV function, you can gain valuable insights into the variability of your data, helping you make more informed decisions in your work or studies.

Additional Information

If you’d like to learn more about statistical concepts like standard deviation, you can explore resources like Wikipedia. Understanding these concepts can be incredibly valuable in various fields where data analysis is essential.

Tomasz Decker is an Excel specialist, skilled in data analysis and financial modeling.