FREQUENCY

See Also

Calculates how often values occur within a range of values, and then returns a vertical array of numbers. For example, use FREQUENCY to count the number of test scores that fall within ranges of scores. Because FREQUENCY returns an array, it must be entered as an array formula.

Syntax

FREQUENCY(data_array,bins_array)

Data_array is an array of or reference to a set of values for which you want to count frequencies. If data_array contains no values, FREQUENCY returns an array of zeros.

Bins_array is an array of or reference to intervals into which you want to group the values in data_array. If bins_array contains no values, FREQUENCY returns the number of elements in data_array.

Remarks

FREQUENCY is entered as an array formula after you select a range of adjacent cells into which you want the returned distribution to appear.
The number of elements in the returned array is one more than the number of elements in bins_array. The extra element in the returned array returns the count of any values above the highest interval. For example, when counting three ranges of values (intervals) that are entered into three cells, be sure to enter FREQUENCY into four cells for the results. The extra cell returns the number of values in data_array that are greater than the third interval value.
FREQUENCY ignores blank cells and text.
Formulas that return arrays must be entered as array formulas.

Example

This example assumes all test scores are integers.

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.

How?

Create a blank spreadsheet.
Select the example in the Help topic.

Selecting an example from Help
Press CTRL+C.
In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.

Scores	Bins
79	70
85	79
78	89
85
50
81
95
88
97
Formula	Description (Result)
=FREQUENCY(A2:A10,B2:B5)	Number of scores less than or equal to 70 (1)
	Number of scores in the bin 71-79 (2)
	Number of scores in the bin 80-89 (4)
	Number of scores greater than or equal to 90 (2)

Note The formula in the example must be entered as an array formula. After copying the example to a blank spreadsheet, select the range A12:A15 starting with the formula cell. Press F2, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. If the formula is not entered as an array formula, the single result is 1.