CHISQ.DIST Function Excel

The #NUM! error occurs when: (1) x parameter is negative (chi-square values must be ≥ 0), (2) deg_freedom is less than 1, (3) deg_freedom exceeds 10^10, or (4) parameters are mathematically invalid. Chi-square distributions are only defined for non-negative x values and positive degrees of freedom.

1. Verify x ≥ 0 - check your chi-square calculation for errors if negative 2. Ensure deg_freedom is a positive integer ≥ 1 3. Confirm deg_freedom ≤ 10^10 (this is rarely an issue in practice) 4. Validate calculation logic: χ² = Σ[(O-E)²/E] should always be positive 5. Use data validation to restrict input ranges 6. Add error checking: =IF(A2>=0, CHISQ.DIST(A2,B2,TRUE), "Error: Negative chi-square")

Implement input validation before calling CHISQ.DIST. Use conditional logic to catch invalid values early. For degrees of freedom, calculate programmatically from your table dimensions rather than manual entry to avoid errors.

The #VALUE! error appears when: (1) x or deg_freedom parameters contain text instead of numbers, (2) Empty cells are referenced, (3) cumulative parameter is not TRUE/FALSE or 1/0, (4) Cell formatting issues cause numbers to be interpreted as text, or (5) Errors from previous calculations propagate.

1. Ensure x and deg_freedom are numeric - check cell formatting 2. Verify cumulative is TRUE or FALSE (or 1/0) 3. Use VALUE() to convert text to numbers: =CHISQ.DIST(VALUE(A2), VALUE(B2), TRUE) 4. Check for hidden spaces or characters in cells 5. Verify source calculations return numbers, not errors 6. Use ISNUMBER() to validate: =IF(AND(ISNUMBER(A2),ISNUMBER(B2)), CHISQ.DIST(A2,B2,TRUE), "Non-numeric input")

Use data validation to ensure only numeric entries in chi-square and degrees of freedom cells. Format cells as 'Number' explicitly. When referencing calculations, use error handling to catch upstream errors before they reach CHISQ.DIST.

The #NAME? error occurs when using Excel 2007 or earlier, which doesn't support the CHISQ.DIST function. This function was introduced in Excel 2010 as part of the statistical function modernization. Excel 2007 and earlier versions only have the legacy CHIDIST function.

1. Upgrade to Excel 2010 or later (recommended for access to modern statistical functions) 2. Use legacy CHIDIST function for Excel 2007: =CHIDIST(x, deg_freedom) - Note: returns right-tail probability only 3. For left-tail probability in Excel 2007: =1-CHIDIST(x, deg_freedom) 4. Use Google Sheets (free alternative with CHISQ.DIST support) 5. Implement manual calculation using EXP and LN functions (complex, not recommended)

Check Excel version before using CHISQ.DIST. For workbooks shared across users, verify all users have Excel 2010+. Consider compatibility mode warnings. For maximum compatibility, document which Excel version is required.

This occurs due to: (1) Misunderstanding cumulative=TRUE (left-tail probability P(X≤x)) vs cumulative=FALSE (probability density), (2) Wrong degrees of freedom calculation - forgetting to subtract 1 or incorrectly applying (rows-1)×(cols-1) formula, (3) Needing right-tail probability for p-value but using left-tail directly, (4) Comparing against wrong critical values, or (5) Confusing PDF values (can exceed 1) with probabilities (0-1 range).

1. For hypothesis testing, use cumulative=TRUE for CDF 2. For p-values, calculate right-tail: =1-CHISQ.DIST(x, df, TRUE) or use CHISQ.DIST.RT 3. Verify degrees of freedom: - Contingency table: (rows-1)×(columns-1) - Goodness-of-fit: (categories-1) - (parameters estimated) - Don't forget to subtract 1 from category count 4. Remember: cumulative=FALSE gives density (height), not probability 5. Document which tail probability you need for your specific test

Create a reference table showing correct df calculations for your common test types. Always clarify whether you need left-tail, right-tail, or two-tailed probability. Use helper cells to show intermediate calculations like df calculation logic.