MicroStrategy ONE

Var (Variance of a Sample)

Variance is a measure of how spread out a set of values is. It is calculated as the average squared deviation of each number from its mean.

This function calculates the variance based on a sample of a population. This is a group-value function.

Syntax

Var <Distinct, FactID>(Argument)

Where:

  • Argument is an attribute, fact, or metric representing a list of numbers.
  • Distinct is a TRUE/FALSE parameter that allows you to calculate using all values in the list or only the unique values.
  • FactID is a parameter that forces a calculation to take place on a fact table that contains the selected fact.

Expression

Usage Notes

Assume when using this function that arguments constitute a population sample, as opposed to a entire population.

Example

This example creates a report in which the variance of the units sold in the subcategories within a category is calculated, with the assumption that the data provided is a sample.

Compare this example report to the example for variance of a population to see the different values returned when calculating for a population as opposed to a sample.

The report includes the attributes Category and Subcategory, and the metrics Units Sold and Var by Category. A report filter limits the categories displayed to Books and Movies. The Var by Category metric is defined as follows:

Var([Units Sold]) {Category, ~}