CHIDIST

Microsoft Office Excel 2003

See Also

Returns the one-tailed probability of the chi-squared distribution. The c2 distribution is associated with a c2 test. Use the c2 test to compare observed and expected values. For example, a genetic experiment might hypothesize that the next generation of plants will exhibit a certain set of colors. By comparing the observed results with the expected ones, you can decide whether your original hypothesis is valid.

Syntax

CHIDIST(x,degrees_freedom)

X    is the value at which you want to evaluate the distribution.

Degrees_freedom    is the number of degrees of freedom.

Remarks

  • If either argument is nonnumeric, CHIDIST returns the #VALUE! error value.
  • If x is negative, CHIDIST returns the #NUM! error value.
  • If degrees_freedom is not an integer, it is truncated.
  • If degrees_freedom < 1 or degrees_freedom ≥ 10^10, CHIDIST returns the #NUM! error value.
  • CHIDIST is calculated as CHIDIST = P(X>x), where X is a c2 random variable.

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

ShowHow?

  1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
  2. Select the example in the Help topic. Do not select the row or column headers.

    Selecting an example from Help

    Selecting an example from Help

  3. Press CTRL+C.
  4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
  5. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
 
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Data Description
18.307 Value at which you want to evaluate the distribution
10 Degrees of freedom
Formula Description (Result)
=CHIDIST(A2,A3) One-tailed probability of the chi-squared distribution, for the above terms (0.050001)