VAR Function in Excel
Intermediate
Calculates variance based on a sample of a population.
Syntax
=VAR.S(number1, [number2], ...)Example
Use Case
Calculate variance in project completion times to assess predictability.
Common Errors to Avoid
- VAR.S is for samples, VAR.P is for entire population
- Result is in squared units (standard deviation squared)
- Extremely sensitive to outliers
Pro Tips
Variance is standard deviation squared. Use VAR.S for sample data, VAR.P for complete population. Standard deviation (STDEV) is often more interpretable than variance. Remove outliers if necessary before calculating variance.
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