WorksheetFunction.FInv Method

Excel Developer Reference

Returns the inverse of the F probability distribution. If p = FDIST(x,...), then FINV(p,...) = x.

Syntax

expression.FInv(Arg1, Arg2, Arg3)

expression   A variable that represents a WorksheetFunction object.

Parameters

Name Required/Optional Data Type Description
Arg1 Required Double Probability - a probability associated with the F cumulative distribution.
Arg2 Required Double Degrees_freedom1 - the numerator degrees of freedom.
Arg3 Required Double Degrees_freedom2 - is the denominator degrees of freedom.

Return Value
Double

Remarks

The F distribution can be used in an F-test that compares the degree of variability in two data sets. For example, you can analyze income distributions in the United States and Canada to determine whether the two countries have a similar degree of income diversity.

  • If any argument is nonnumeric, FINV returns the #VALUE! error value.
  • If probability < 0 or probability > 1, FINV returns the #NUM! error value.
  • If degrees_freedom1 or degrees_freedom2 is not an integer, it is truncated.
  • If degrees_freedom1 < 1 or degrees_freedom1 ≥ 10^10, FINV returns the #NUM! error value.
  • If degrees_freedom2 < 1 or degrees_freedom2 ≥ 10^10, FINV returns the #NUM! error value.

FINV can be used to return critical values from the F distribution. For example, the output of an ANOVA calculation often includes data for the F statistic, F probability, and F critical value at the 0.05 significance level. To return the critical value of F, use the significance level as the probability argument to FINV.

Given a value for probability, FINV seeks that value x such that FDIST(x, degrees_freedom1, degrees_freedom2) = probability. Thus, precision of FINV depends on precision of FDIST. FINV uses an iterative search technique. If the search has not converged after 100 iterations, the function returns the #N/A error value.

See Also