MS Excel: How to use the VARA Function (WS)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel VARA function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Microsoft Excel VARA function returns the variance of a population based on a sample of numbers, text, and logical values (ie: TRUE or FALSE).

The VARA function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Statistical Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the VARA function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

Syntax

The syntax for the VARA function in Microsoft Excel is:

VARA( value1, [value2, ... value_n] )

Parameters or Arguments

value1

The first sample value that can be a number, text, or logical value. A value that is TRUE is evaluated as 1. A value that is FALSE or a text value is evaluated as 0.

value2, ... value_n

Optional. Additional sample values that can be numbers, text, and logical values. There can be up to 30 values entered.

Returns

The VARA function returns a numeric value.

Applies To

• Excel for Office 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function

• Worksheet function (WS)

Example (as Worksheet Function)

Let's look at some Excel VARA function examples and explore how to use the VARA function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the following VARA examples would return:

=VARA(C2, C3, C4, C5)
Result: 3.6178

=VARA(D2, D3, D4)
Result: 122.5420333

=VARA(34.5, 2, 8.9, -4, FALSE)
Result: 236.667