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PEARSON function
Returns the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, r, a
dimensionless index that ranges from -1.0 to 1.0 inclusive and reflects the
extent of a linear relationship between two data sets.
Syntax
PEARSON(array1,array2)

Argument Description Remarks


array1 A set of The arguments must be either numbers
independent or names, arrays, or references that
values. contain numbers.

If an array or reference argument


contains text, logical values, or empty
cells, those values are ignored. However,
cells with the value zero are included.

array2 A set of The arguments must be either numbers


dependent or names, arrays, or references that
values. contain numbers.

If an array or reference argument


contains text, logical values, or empty
cells, those values are ignored. However,
cells with the value zero are included.

General remarks

If the arguments are empty or have a different number of data points,


this function returns the #N/A error value.

The formula for the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, r,


is:

where x and y are the sample means AVERAGE(array1) and


AVERAGE(array2).

Example
To make the following example easier to understand, you can copy the data to
a blank sheet and then enter the function underneath the data. Do not select
the row or column headings (1, 2, 3... A, B, C...) when you copy the sample
data to a blank sheet.

A B
1 Independent values Dependent values
2 9 10
3 7 6
4 5 1
5 3 5
6 1 3

Formula Description (Result)


Pearson product moment correlation coefficient
=PEARSON(A2:A6,B2:B6)
for the data sets in the table (0.699379)

See also
INTERCEPT function
LINEST function
RSQ function
SLOPE function
STEYX function
List of all functions by category

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