Use the covariance Tool

Covariance and correlation coefficient are indicators that describe the degree of difference between sample groups. The difference between the two is that the covariance has no limited value range.

Open the file, as shown in figure 14-33. This table shows the sales status of a bookstore under a publishing group. The following describes how to use the covariance to analyze the sales status of different bookstores:

 Select covariance Tool

Switch to the "data" tab in Excel 2007, and click "Data Analysis" in the "analysis" area. In the "Data Analysis" dialog box displayed, select the "covariance" option, as shown in figure 14-34.

Set parameters of the covariance Tool

Click OK. The covariance dialog box is displayed, as shown in figure 14-35. Then, click the "compress dialog box" button on the right of the "input area" text box.
, Select the input data region option, as shown in figure 14-36.

After the selection is complete, click the expand dialog box button in the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
Click the single-choice button before "column-by-column" in the "Group mode" option, select the check box that is located before the first line, and in the "output options" option, click the radio button before "Output Area" to select the output area, as shown in figure 14-37.

Analysis result

After setting, click OK to display the covariance statistics, as shown in 14-38. The covariance data of each bookstore under a publishing group can be obtained.

The statistical result data analyzed using the covariance tool is not limited to-1 ~ + 1.