DVAR function in Excel

What is DVAR function in Excel?

The DVAR function is one of the Database functions of Excel.

It estimates variance based on a sample from selected database entries.

We can find this function in the Database of insert function Tab

How to use DVAR function in excel

1. Click on empty cell (like F5 )

2. Click on the fx icon (or press shift+F3)

3. In the insert function tab you will see all functions

4. Select Database category

5. Select DVAR function

6. Then select ok

7. In the function arguments Tab you will see DVAR function

8. In the Database section you can enter the range of cells that makes up the list or database. A database is a list of related data (ex: Table1)

9. Field section is either the label of the column in double quotation marks or a number that represents the column’s position in the list (ex: C1)

10. Criteria section is the range of cells that contains the conditions you specify. The range includes a column label and one cell below the label for a condition (ex: Table1)

11. You will see the result in formula result section

Examples of DVAR function in excel

Example1:

calculate the variance of student height with DVAR function

Example 2:

calculate the variance of student weight with DVAR function

Example 3:

Python code for DVAR function

import pandas as pd

df=pd.read_csv(‘example.csv’)

Vardf = df.var(axis=0, numeric_only= True)

print (Vardf)

What is the purpose of DVAR function?

It estimates variance based on a sample from selected database entries.

What is the Return value  of DVAR function?

It just return number.

DVAR (database, field, criteria)=number

How many arguments does DVAR function have?

DVAR(database, field, criteria)

DVAR function has 3 arguments.

• In the Database section you can enter the range of cells that make up the list or database
• Field section is either the label of the column in double quotation marks
• Criteria section is the range of cells that contains the conditions you specify

Which version of excel supports DVAR function?

This function is available for all excel versions (2003-2019)

Errors in DVAR function

If no record matches the criteria, DVAR returns the 0 value.

If more than one record matches the criteria, DVAR returns one of the smallest value.

Conditions and criteria range in DVAR function

Criteria argument in DVAR function

we can define any range for the criteria argument: it has 2 condition

1. It includes at least one column label

2. It includes at least one cell under the column label.

For example, if the range A1:A2 contains “Name” in A1 and “Benjamin” in A2,

you could define A1=”Name” & A2=”Benjamin”

DVAR function find the word of “Benjamin” under “name” column

location of Criteria range in DVAR function

Although the criteria range can be located anywhere on the worksheet, do not place the criteria range below the list. If you add more information to the list, the new information is added to the first row below the list. If the row below the list is not blank, Microsoft Excel cannot add the new information.

Make sure that the criteria range does not overlap the list.

To perform an operation on an entire column in a database, enter a blank line below the column labels in the criteria range.

DVAR related functions :

• DCOUNT Function
• DCOUNTA Function
• DMAX Function
• DVARP Function
• DSTDEV function