The STDEV function in Google Sheets is a powerful statistical tool used to evaluate the variation or dispersion of a dataset by calculating the standard deviation based on a sample. This function is particularly useful in analyzing a subset of data when it’s impractical or impossible to assess an entire population.

Syntax

STDEV(value1, [value2, ...])

• value1: The first numeric value or range that contributes to the sample standard deviation.
• value2: (Optional) Additional numeric values or ranges to include in the standard deviation calculation.

Example #1

STDEV(A1:A10)

This function computes the standard deviation for the values in cells A1 through A10. For example, if the values are 2, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 7, 9, the result may be approximately 2.0.

Example #2

STDEV(10, 12, 14, 16)

This function calculates the standard deviation of the given numbers (10, 12, 14, 16). The result would be 2.0, indicating low variability among these values.

Example #3

STDEV(B2:B5, D2)

This function takes the sample from the range B2 to B5 and includes the value in cell D2. For instance, if B2:B5 contains 3, 5, 8, 2 and D2 is 6, the standard deviation could be around 2.24, reflecting the variation including D2.

Error handling

• DIV/0!: This error occurs when there are no numerical values to calculate the standard deviation.
• VALUE!: This appears when non-numeric values are included in the function’s arguments, making it impossible to compute a standard deviation.
• N/A: Indicates there is no available value due to missing or undefined data points.

Conclusion

In summary, the STDEV function is an essential tool for statisticians, analysts, and anyone working with data in Google Sheets. It allows users to efficiently determine the variability within a sample set, making it easier to draw insights and make informed decisions based on the data. Understanding how to effectively use this function can enhance your data analysis skills significantly.