The VARPA() function calculates the variance of an entire population values. The syntax for the function is VARPA (number1, number2, ...number_n). 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 or when referenced but the function will ignore 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 VARPA function returns the amount of variance of a population which describes how distributed the population data is. It can also be thought of the square of the standard deviation or more specifically the average squared deviation form the mean. To learn more about variance in statistics see: [The Variance Mathematics Knowledgebase]

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

Note: The VAR and the VARA functions are only estimate the variance of the population data as they use a sample of data values no the complete pupulation of data value.