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FDIST

The FDIST function calculates the F probability distribution. It returns the probability that the variances in two sets of data are homogeneous. This function is commonly used in hypothesis testing and regression analysis.

Usage

Use the FDIST formula with the syntax shown below, it has 3 required parameters:

=FDIST(x, degrees_freedom1, degrees_freedom2)
Parameters:
  1. x (required):
    The value at which to evaluate the distribution.
  2. degrees_freedom1 (required):
    The degrees of freedom of the numerator.
  3. degrees_freedom2 (required):
    The degrees of freedom of the denominator.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the FDIST formula in Google Sheets.

Hypothesis testing

FDIST can be used to determine the probability that the variances of two sets of data are homogeneous. This is useful in hypothesis testing.

Regression analysis

FDIST can be used in regression analysis to determine if there is a significant difference between the variances of two sets of data.

Common Mistakes

FDIST not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the FDIST Google Sheets Formula:

Missing or incorrect arguments

One of the most common mistakes is not providing the correct number of arguments or providing arguments in the wrong order. Make sure to check the syntax of the FDIST formula and provide the correct arguments in the correct order.

Incorrect degrees of freedom

Another common mistake is providing incorrect degrees of freedom. Make sure to double-check the degrees of freedom for both the numerator and denominator and ensure that they are greater than or equal to 1.

Invalid input for x

The value of x must be greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1. Make sure to check the input for x and ensure that it meets these criteria.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to FDIST or are often used with it in a formula:

  • FTEST

    The FTEST function returns the result of an F-test, which tests whether two data sets have different variances. The function takes two ranges of data as inputs and returns a probability value, which can be used to determine the likelihood that the variances of the two data sets are equal.

  • TTEST

    The TTEST formula is a statistical formula used to determine the probability of two sample means being equal. It is commonly used in hypothesis testing to determine if there is a significant difference between two sets of data. The formula returns the probability value associated with a t-test, which can be used to determine if the null hypothesis should be rejected or not.

  • CHIDIST

    The CHIDIST function calculates the one-tailed probability of the chi-squared distribution. It is commonly used in hypothesis testing to determine whether there is a significant difference between expected and observed values in a contingency table or to test the goodness of fit of an observed distribution to a theoretical distribution.

Learn More

You can learn more about the FDIST Google Sheets function on Google Support.