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In this article
T.DIST gives probabilities for the t-distribution — used instead of the normal curve when samples are small.
Syntax
=T.DIST(x, deg_freedom, cumulative)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
deg_freedom |
Usually sample size − 1. |
Examples
Example 1
=1-T.DIST(2.1, 19, TRUE)One-tailed p-value for t = 2.1 with 20 observations (about 0.025).
T.DIST in practice
Where you will use it
- p-value from a t statistic
- Small-sample tests
- Confidence work
Worked example
| t | df | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | 10 | =ROUND(T.DIST(A2,B2,TRUE),4) | 0.969 |
| 1 | 20 | =ROUND(T.DIST(A3,B3,TRUE),4) | 0.8354 |
| 3.5 | 5 | =ROUND(T.DIST(A4,B4,TRUE),4) | 0.9914 |
Results calculated in Excel.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Two-tailed tests | Use T.DIST.2T |
| Degrees of freedom | n-1 for one sample |
Related functions
T.INV.2T · T.TEST
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