Excel - NORMINV Function



NORMINV Function

The Excel NORMINV function comes in the category of the Excel statistical function. It retrieves the inverse of the normal cumulative distributive for a defined probability, mean, and standard deviation value and calculates the normal distribution's probability. It is most used in project management, where NORMINV assists in determining the finishing time of the assigned projects, such as stock, research, finance, and engineering.

NORM.INV function was appended in Excel 2010 to replace the NORMINV Excel function.

Compatibility

This advanced excel function is compatible with the following versions of MS-Excel −

  • Excel for Microsoft 365
  • Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac
  • Excel for the web
  • Excel 2021
  • Excel 2021 for Mac
  • Excel 2019
  • Excel 2019 for Mac
  • Excel 2016

Syntax

The syntax of NORMINV function is as follows −

NORMINV (probability, mean, standard_dev)

Arguments

You can use the following arguments with the NORMINV function −

Argument Description Required / Optional
Probability This value represents the probability values for the normal distribution. Required
Mean It specifies the distributions arithmetic mean Required
standard_dev Another distribution parameter to represent the standard deviation. Required

Points to Remember

  • Use the NORMINV Function to calculate the normal distribution value for cases where probability, mean value, and standard deviation values are present.
  • The NORMINV function will retrieve the #VALUE! error if any arguments comprise the non-numeric values.
  • If the standard_dev value remains less than or equal to 0, the NORMINV function will retrieve the error named #NUM!.
  • If the mean and standard_dev values are equal to 0 and 1, then the NORMINV function utilizes the standard normal distribution.

Examples of NORMINV Function

Practice the following examples to learn the use of the NORMINV function in Excel.

Example 1

First, consider the sample dataset, where probability, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation values are specified in the cell range C3:C5.

Excel NORMINV Function 1

Now, go to the C7 cell and type the formula =NORMINV(C3,C4, C5).

Excel NORMINV Function 2

In the next step press the Enter key to display the required result value.

Excel NORMINV Function 3

Therefore, the resulting value is 5.524400513 which rounds nearby 5.52.

Example 2

The NORMINV function will return the #VALUE! Error if any arguments of it are non-numeric.

Solution

You may enter the formula =NORMINV(0.70,"A","B") in the B3 cell and press the Enter tab. Therefore, the NORMINV function will create the error value # VALUE! as the standard_dev or mean in text form, which is not applicable in this function.

Excel NORMINV Function 4

Press Enter key. The generated results are listed below −

Excel NORMINV Function 5

Example 3

If the value of standard_dev remains less than or equal to 0, the NORMINV function will retrieve the #NUM! error value.

Solution

You may enter the formula =NORMINV(0.7, 2,-1) in the C2 cell and press the Enter tab. Therefore, the NORMINV function will create the error value # NUM! as the standard_dev value remains less than or equal to 0.

Excel NORMINV Function 6

Press Enter key. The generated results are listed below −

Excel NORMINV Function 7

Example 4

If the value of the mean is 0, standard_dev is 1, then the NORMINV function uses the standard normal distribution.

Solution

Step 1 − First, enter the formula =NORMINV(0.7,0,1) in the B3 cell and press the Enter tab.

Excel NORMINV Function 8

Step 2 − Therefore, this function will generate a result value of 0.524400513 in this example.

Excel NORMINV Function 9

Step 3 − In this step will cross verify this value with other function normsdist function. To do so, will use the normsdist() function, and pass the argument value equal to the obtained resultant value, that is 0.524400513. Snapshot for user reference is provided below −

Excel NORMINV Function 10

Step 4 − After that press the enter key to obtain the required resultant value. This will calculate the value as 0.7. This is the probability value used to calculate the above sample value.

Excel NORMINV Function 11
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