How To Calculate Standard Deviation In Google Sheets

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Standard deviation is a measure that is used to quantify the amount of variation or dispersion of a set of values. It is a commonly used statistic in many fields. Google Sheets, a widely used spreadsheet tool, provides a simple method to calculate the standard deviation. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of calculating standard deviation in Google Sheets.

Steps to Calculate Standard Deviation

Here are the steps you can follow to calculate the standard deviation using Google Sheets:

  1. Open your Google Sheets and make sure your data is organized. This could be a row or column of numbers from which you want to calculate the standard deviation.
  2. Click on an empty cell where you want to display the standard deviation result.
  3. Type the formula for standard deviation. Google Sheets offers two main functions to calculate standard deviation: STDEVP and STDEVS.

    • STDEVP is used when data represents the entire population.
    • STDEVS is used when data is a sample of a population.
  4. After typing the function, specify the range of cells that contain the numbers for which you want to calculate the standard deviation.
  5. Press the “Enter” key and Google Sheets will calculate the standard deviation.

For instance, if you have data in cells A1 through A10 and you want to calculate the standard deviation, the formula you should enter might look like this: 

        =STDEVS(A1:A10)

Or if your data represents the entire population: 

        =STDEVP(A1:A10)

Conclusion

Calculating the standard deviation in Google Sheets is a straightforward process once you understand the formula syntax and how to apply it. Whether you’re using standard deviation for a math assignment, a statistical analysis, or for business planning, Google Sheets provides an easy solution.