The NORMSINV function in Google Sheets is designed to assist users in determining the value of the inverse standard normal distribution. This function is particularly useful in statistics and probability, where it can help in various analyses, such as finding z-scores corresponding to a given probability in a standard normal distribution.

Syntax

NORMSINV(probability)

• probability: A numeric value between 0 and 1, representing the cumulative probability for which you want to find the corresponding z-score.

Example #1

NORMSINV(0.95)

This function returns the z-score that corresponds to the cumulative probability of 0.95 in a standard normal distribution. The result is approximately 1.6449.

Example #2

NORMSINV(0.5)

Here, the function calculates the z-score for a cumulative probability of 0.5. The result is 0, as this is the mean of the standard normal distribution.

Example #3

NORMSINV(0.01)

In this case, the function returns the z-score for a cumulative probability of 0.01, resulting in approximately -2.3263, indicating that this is a lower tail value in the distribution.

Error handling

• NUM!: This error occurs when the input probability is less than 0 or greater than 1. Ensure your probability value is within this range.
• VALUE!: This error appears if the input provided is not a numeric value. Make sure you input a number.

Conclusion

In summary, the NORMSINV function is a valuable tool for statistical analysis, allowing for the retrieval of z-scores from cumulative probabilities in a standard normal distribution. It facilitates various statistical calculations and enhances data interpretation in Google Sheets.