The SKEW() function calculates the skewness of a sample of data values. The syntax for the function is SKEW (array1). The arguments "number1, number2, ..number_n" can be numerical values, references to a range of cells or a named range of which you want to find the variance (up to 30 data points).The function accepts logical values when entered directly into the function as arguments but the function will ignore refernced logical values and other terms not recognized as numerical values. Note: arguments that are text that cannot be translated into numerical values or that contain errors will cause the function to return an error value. The SKEW function returns the amount of skew in a distribution of data points which describes the level of symmetry of the distribution about the mean average. A positive skew indicates that the data values tend to distribute toward the left and a negative skew tends to populate data values more towards the right. [chart comparing skew values] The above charts have the same mean and the same standard deviation. They differe in that they have opposite skew values. To learn more about variance in statistics see: [The Variance Mathematics Knowledgebase]

How to use the SKEW() function: Type " =SKEW( " Enter the reference for the array of data "A2:A10". Type")" then press the "Enter" key.

Note: If fewer than 3 data points are entered, the SKEW function will return a #DIV/0 error value as the (n-2) term in the skew equation becomes equal to zero when n=2 and the (n-1) term equals zero when n=1.