How to use STDEVPA function in Excel?

The `STDEVPA` function in Excel is used to calculate the standard deviation of a population based on a set of numbers, text representations of numbers, or logical values (TRUE and FALSE). Unlike `STDEVP`, which only considers numerical values, `STDEVPA` also accounts for text and logical values, with some specific interpretations:

Numbers are taken as they are.
Text that can be interpreted as numbers (e.g., “4” or “3.5”) will be converted and included.
Logical values are treated as numerical: TRUE as 1 and FALSE as 0.
Text that cannot be interpreted as a number is counted as 0.

Here’s how you can use the `STDEVPA` function:

Syntax

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

value1, value2, …: These are 1 to 255 arguments that can be numbers, names, arrays, or references that contain numbers. The first argument, `value1`, is required and subsequent arguments are optional.

Steps to Use STDEVPA

   =STDEVPA(A1:A10)

Open Excel: Start your Excel application and open a worksheet where you want to calculate the standard deviation.
Prepare Your Data: Ensure that your data is ready in a range. For example, you might have a mix of numbers, logical values, and text in cells A1 to A10.
Formula Entry: Click on the cell where you want to display the result of the standard deviation calculation.
Type the Formula: Enter the `STDEVPA` function with the appropriate arguments. For example:

This formula calculates the standard deviation, including any logical values or text within the range A1 to A10.

   =STDEVPA(3, TRUE, "2", FALSE, "apple")

Adjust Arguments (Optional): You can also enter individual values directly into the function:

In this case, `TRUE` is treated as 1, `FALSE` as 0, `”2″` is treated as 2, and “apple” is ignored as it cannot be converted to a number.

Press Enter: Once you’ve typed the formula, press `Enter`. Excel will compute the standard deviation of the population including your specified data.

Important Considerations

Text Handling: If you have text that cannot be interpreted as numbers and you don’t want it to be counted as 0, consider cleaning your data or using the `STDEVP` function.
Interpretation of Results: Keep in mind that the result might be affected by non-numeric text and logical values, which could lead to different results compared to `STDEV` or `STDEVP`.

By following these steps, you should be able to effectively use the `STDEVPA` function in Excel to calculate the population standard deviation that accounts for numbers, text, and logical values.

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