Excel - TDIST Function



TDIST Function

The Excel TDIST function computes the T distribution across the small dataset and will return the Students t-distribution. The Excel-TDIST function permits you to look at the mean difference between two groups. For example, Is the mean gross pay for male employees greater than that of female employees?

If you are dealing with small datasets of less than 30 samples and are not aware of the sample standard deviation, then the T distribution is the best way to verify the null hypothesis and reach a conclusion.

T-test usually comes in two variations −

  • One-tailed distribution
  • Two-tailed distribution

The TDIST function interchanges with the T.DIST.2T & T.DIST.RT functions appended in Excel 2010.

Syntax

The syntax of TDIST function is as follows −

TDIST(x,deg_freedom,tails)

Arguments

You can use the following arguments with the TDIST function −

Argument Description Required / Optional
X It specifies the numeric value at which to evaluate the distribution. Required
Deg_freedom It specifies the integer value that indicates the number of degrees of freedom. Required
Tails

It can be either equal to integer 1 or 2.

If Tails = 1, TDIST will retrieve the one-tailed distribution.

If Tails = 2, TDIST will retrieve the two-tailed distribution.

Required

Points to Remember

  • If Tails = 1, the TDIST function is evaluated as TDIST = P( X > x ), where X indicates the random variable. If Tails = 2, TDIST is calculated as TDIST = P(|X| > x) = P(X > x or X < -x)
  • If Deg_Freedom argument is in decimal form, it is truncated to integers.
  • If any argument is other than numeric, TDIST will retrieve the #VALUE! Error.
  • If Deg_freedom is negative, TDIST will return the #NUM! Error.
  • If the Tails argument contains an integer value other than either 1 or 2, then TDIST will retrieve the #NUM! Error.
  • If the x value is negative, TDIST will retrieve the #NUM! Error.

Examples of TDIST Function

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

Example 1

Step 1 − Consider the sample dataset, where the Mean and Standard Deviation of the two groups are specified in the range C2:D3. The significance level is 0.05. Lets calculate the Degree of freedom, which is equal to n-1. You may enter the formula =C8+D8-1 in the C10 cell and press the Enter key to obtain the resulting value.

Excel TDIST Function 1

Excel TDIST Function 2

Step 2 − After that, you may write the expression =ABS(C2-D2)/SQRT((C8*(1/C6+1/D6))) in the C10 cell to obtain the t calculated value and press the Enter key.

Excel TDIST Function 3

Therefore, the t calculated value is 2.407209.

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Step 3 − Moreover, you may write the expression =TINV(2*C4,C10) in the C12 cell to get the t critical value by using the TINV function and press the Enter tab.

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Therefore, the t critical value is 1.650538.

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Step 4 − Finally, calculate the probability one-tailed t distribution by employing the TDIST function. Enter the formula =TDIST(C11,C10,1) in the C13 cell and press Enter.

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Therefore, the probability value is .008374, which is greater than the significance level (.005). Thus, we accept the null hypothesis and fail to accept the alternative hypothesis.

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Example 2

If Deg_Freedom argument is in decimal form, it is truncated to integers.

Solution

You may enter the TDIST formula =TDIST(123,4.1,1) in the C3 cell and press the Enter tab. In this expression, the second argument (Deg_freedom), whose value is 4.1, is truncated to 4 number.

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Excel TDIST Function 10

Example 3

If any argument is other than numeric, TDIST will retrieve the #VALUE! Error.

Solution

Lets suppose you use the non-numeric value in any argument of the TDIST function; then, it will not give you an accurate result. Enter the TDIST formula =TDIST("ice",2,1) in the C3 cell and press the Enter tab.

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Therefore, the TDIST function will generate the #VALUE error.

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Example 4

If Deg_freedom is negative, TDIST will return the #NUM! Error.

Solution

In this example, you can enter the formula =TDIST(121.1,-4,1) in the C3 cell. Here, the second argument's value (Deg_of_freedom) is -4, which is not permittable.

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After that, press the Enter tab to get the result.

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Therefore, the TDIST function will obtain the #NUM! Function. You can edit the Deg_of_freedom value to a positive value for the correct result.

Example 5

If the Tails argument contains an integer value other than either 1 or 2, then TDIST will retrieve the #NUM! Error.

Solution

First, write the TDIST formula =TDIST(123,4,9) in the C4 cell. Here, the value of Tails(third argument) is 9, which generates the error once you execute this function.

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You may press the Enter key to get the result.

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As you can see in this screenshot, the TDIST function will create the #NUM! error.

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