DSTDEVP: Google Sheets Formulas Explained

When I first started using Google Sheets, I was blown away by its versatility and power. I came from a background of using Excel for everything, and the fact that Google Sheets was available for free online meant that I could work seamlessly on projects with my team members from anywhere. There was one thing that tripped me up, however: formulas. I know, I know, they’re supposed to be helpful, but I found them a little bit confusing at first. That’s why I’m excited to share with you all about one of my favorite Google Sheets formulas: DSTDEVP.

What is DSTDEVP?

DSTDEVP is short for “database standard deviation of a population”. Don’t be intimidated by the fancy name, though—it’s actually a really useful formula that can help you analyze data with ease. Put simply, DSTDEVP calculates the standard deviation of a population based on a set of criteria. Because it calculates the standard deviation of a population, you won’t need to worry about sample sizes or the like.

How to Use DSTDEVP

Using DSTDEVP in a Google Sheets document is pretty easy! First, you’ll need a dataset to work with. Let’s say you have a list of sales figures, and you want to find out the standard deviation of those sales figures for salespeople who sell more than $1000 each month. Here are the steps to using DSTDEVP:

1. Make sure your dataset is organized with all relevant data in columns of the same size. In this example, your sales figures would be in one column and the salesperson’s name would be in another column.
2. Define the criteria that you want to use for DSTDEVP to calculate the standard deviation. In our example, that would be salespeople who sell more than $1000 each month. You’ll need to create a separate table to do this. Make sure this table has a column for each criterion (in our example, the salesperson’s name and the sales figure amount) and a row for each salesperson.
3. In a new cell, type in “=DSTDEVP(” and then select your dataset by clicking and dragging across it.
4. Now you’ll need to provide the criteria for DSTDEVP to use. This is where your separate table comes in! Type in “,” (comma) and then choose your separate table by clicking and dragging across it as well.
5. Add the criteria “,1,” to the formula to complete it. This tells DSTDEVP to calculate the standard deviation based on one set of criteria.
6. Hit “enter” and your standard deviation calculation will appear!

And that’s it! You’ll now have your standard deviation calculation based on a set of criteria. DSTDEVP is a little more complicated than some of the other formulas available in Google Sheets, but it’s definitely worth taking the time to learn!

Closing Thoughts

Google Sheets is an incredibly powerful tool, and mastering its formulas can help you become even more efficient and effective when analyzing data. Though formulas may seem intimidating at first, DSTDEVP is an excellent one to try out for beginners. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to streamline your data analysis and make sense of even the most complex datasets. Good luck!