Excel calculate covariance using COVARIANCE.S and COVARIANCE.P

This Excel tutorial explains how to calculate sample covariance using COVARIANCE.S and calculate population covariance using COVARIANCE.P

Covariance

Covariance is a measure of how much two random variables change together.

The below formula is for calculation of Population Covariance. For Sample Covariance, divide n-1 instead of N.

population covariance

While σx is denoted as standard variation of x, σxy is denoted as Covariance.

After we calculate the covariance, we can check the sign whether it is negative or positive.  Positive covariance means positive relationship (y increases as x increases), negative covariance means a negative relationship (y decreases as x increases). However, we cannot see the strength of relationship.

Covariance – Manual calculation

Assume B2 to B4 are the source data of variable x and y, when x increases, y also increases.

COVARIANCE.S and COVARIANCE.B 01

The gray cells are Excel formula, you can easily create a table as above. The final figure we need from the above table is the yellow cell.

Now we can apply the formula to calculate sample covariance and population covariance

Population covariance = 35/N = 35/3 =11.7

Sample covariance = 35/n-1 = 35/2 =17.5

 

If we invert the y data so that y decreases with x, then

COVARIANCE.S and COVARIANCE.B 02

Population covariance = -35/N = -35/3 =-11.7

Sample covariance = -35/n-1 = -35/2 =-17.5

 

If  y is constant, then

COVARIANCE.S and COVARIANCE.B 03

Population covariance = 0

Sample covariance = 0

 

We can tell from the sign of covariance that positive covariance is a positive relationship, negative covariance is negative relationship, zero covariance is no relationship, but we cannot tell the strength of the relationship by looking at the number.

COVARIANCE.S and COVARIANCE.P Functions

Calculating covariance using Excel formula is very straight forward.

Covariance.S is to calculate sample covariance, while Covariance.P is to calculate population covariance. Both functions have two parameters

Covariance.S(array1, array2)
Covariance.P(array1, array2)

array1 is the variable x data set, while array2 is the variable y data set. Using the below dataset as an example

COVARIANCE.S and COVARIANCE.B 01

Formula Result
Population Covariance =COVARIANCE.P(B2:B4,C2:C4) 11.66667
Sample Covariance =COVARIANCE.S(B2:B4,C2:C4) 17.5

 

 

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