The Excel VARPA function computes the variance of for a population of data. Unlike the VARP function, the VARPA function evaluates text values and logicals in references.
Syntax:= VARPA (number1, [number2], …)
The VARPA function syntax has the following arguments:
- Value1, value2, … Value1 is required, subsequent values are optional. 1 to 255 value arguments corresponding to a population.
Example: Let’s look at some Excel VARPA function examples and explore how to use the VARPA function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:
Syntax: =VARPA(B2:B17)
Result: 2743.31
Note:
- VARPA assumes that its arguments are the entire population. If your data represents a sample of the population, you must compute the variance by using VARA.
- 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.
- Logical values and 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 VARP function.
- The equation for VARPA is :
where x is the sample mean AVERAGE(value1,value2,…) and n is the sample size.
