<doc>
  <legacy_id>0</legacy_id>
  <name>variance</name>
  <type>function</type>
  <syntax>
    <example>variance(<i>numbersList</i>)</example>
  </syntax>
  <library></library>
  <objects>
  </objects>
  <synonyms>
    <synonym>sampVariance</synonym>
  </synonyms>
  <classification>
    <category>Math, Logic, &amp; Dates</category>
  </classification>
  <references>
    <function tag="sum">sum Function</function>
    <function tag="average">average Function</function>
    <function tag="median">median Function</function>
    <function tag="averageDeviation">averageDeviation Function</function>
    <function tag="populationStandardDeviation">populationStandardDeviation Function</function>
    <function tag="populationVariance">populationVariance Function</function>
    <function tag="standardDeviation">standardDeviation Function</function>
    <function tag="variance">variance Function</function>
  </references>
  <history>
    <introduced version="6.1">Added.</introduced>
  </history>
  <platforms>
    <mac/>
    <windows/>
    <linux/>
    <ios/>
    <android/>
  </platforms>
  <classes>
    <desktop/>
    <server/>
    <web/>
    <mobile/>
  </classes>
  <security>
  </security>
  <summary><glossary tag="return">Returns</glossary> the sample variance of a list of numbers.</summary>
  <examples>
    <example>variance(8,10,12) <code><i>-- returns 4</i></code></example>
    <example>put variance(studentScores) into field "Sample Variance"</example>
  </examples>
  <description>
    <p>Use the <b>variance</b> <control_st tag="function">function</control_st> to analyze the amount of spread in a list of numbers.</p><p/><p><b>Parameters:</b></p><p>The <i>numbersList</i> is a comma-separated list of numbers, or an <glossary tag="expression">expression</glossary> that <glossary tag="evaluate">evaluates</glossary> to such a list, or an <glossary tag="array">array</glossary> containing only numbers.</p><p/><p><b>Value:</b></p><p>The <b>variance</b> function <glossary tag="return">returns</glossary> a number.</p><p/><p><b>Comments:</b></p><p>The <b>variance</b> <control_st tag="function">function</control_st> was added in version 6.1 to complement the <b>standardDeviation</b> <control_st tag="function">function</control_st>.</p><p>The variance is a measure of how widely distributed the numbers in the <i>numbersList</i> are.</p>
  </description>
</doc>