# VAR

## Content

This function returns the variance based on a sample of a population, which uses only numeric values.

## Syntax

`VAR( value1, value2,... )`

`VAR( array )`

`VAR( array1, array2,... )`

## Arguments

Each argument can be a double-precision floating-point value, an integer value, or an array (cell range) of these. Up to 255 arguments may be included. You can use a single array (cell range) instead of a list of values. You can use multiple arrays (cell ranges) as well.

## Remarks

The variance returns how spread out a set of data is.

* This function uses the following equation to calculate the variance, where *n* is the number of values.
    ![](https://gcdocumentsitekrblob.blob.core.windows.net/document-site-files/images/8d606653-16a0-474d-b9dc-e2b4d01c2446/images/Func-VAR.png)
    where x is the value and n is the number of values.

This function assumes that its arguments are a sample of the population. If your data represents the entire population, then compute the variance using the [VARP](/spreadjs/docs/v16/formulareference/FormulaFunctions/compatibility-functions/VARP) function.

This function differs from VARP, which accepts text and logical values as well as numeric values.

## Data Types

Accepts numeric data for all arguments. Returns numeric data.

## Examples

`VAR(B3,C4,B2,D10,E5)`

`VAR(A1:A9)`

`VAR(R1C2,100,R2C5,102)`

`VAR(R1C1:R9C1)`

`VAR(R1C1:R1C9)`

`VAR(98,85,76,87,92,89,90)` gives the result 45.8095238095