The Excel NORMSDIST Function
Standard Normal Cumulative Distribution
The Standard Normal Cumulative Distribution is a simplified version of the Normal Cumulative Distribution Function which arises when the mean of the distribution is 0 and the standard deviation is 1.
Therefore, the Excel Normsdist function is the same as the Normdist function with the mean, standard_dev and cumulative arguments set to 0, 1 and TRUE respectively.
This Standard Normal Cumulative Distribution function is shown in the graph below:
NORMSDIST & NORM.S.DIST Functions
In Excel 2010, the NORMSDIST function has been replaced by the NORM.S.DIST function, which can calculate the both the probability density function and the cumulative distribution function, (whereas the Normsdist function only calculates the cumulative distribution function).
However, the Normsdist function is still available in Excel 2010 (stored in the list of compatibility functions), to allow compatibility with earlier versions of Excel.
Function Description
The Excel NORMSDIST function calculates the Standard Normal Cumulative Distribution Function for a supplied value.
The syntax of the function is:
NORMSDIST( z )
Where z is the value at which you want to calculate the function.
Normsdist Function Examples
In the spreadsheet below, the Excel Normsdist Function is used to calculate the Standard Normal Cumulative Distribution function at 3 different values of z.
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Formulas:
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Results:
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For further information and examples of the Excel Normsdist function, see the Microsoft Office website.
Normsdist Function Error
If you get an error from the Excel Normsdist function this is likely to be the #VALUE! error:
Common Error
| #VALUE! | - | Occurs if the supplied argument is non-numeric. |