# Google Sheets CHIDIST Function: Syntax, Examples & Tips - URL: https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chidist-function - Author: Better Analyst Formula Bot is now Better Analyst—same account, more powerful analysis.Formula Bot is now Better Analyst—same account and workflows, with more powerful analysis, dashboards, and automation. [Learn what changed](https://betteranalyst.com/formula-bot-is-now-better-analyst) Returns the right-tailed chi-square probability. Legacy version of CHISQ.DIST.RT. ``` =CHIDIST(x, degrees_freedom) ``` Generate FormulaExplain Formula One free generation or explanation per browser, shared across Excel and Google Sheets. Account usage limits apply afterward. Describe the CHIDIST you need in plain EnglishGenerate Formula ## Parameters | Parameter | Required | Description | | - | - | - | | **x** | Yes | The value at which to evaluate the distribution. Must be 0 or greater. | | **degrees\_freedom** | Yes | The number of degrees of freedom. Decimals are truncated; must be at least 1. | ## What Is CHIDIST? CHIDIST returns the right-tailed probability of the chi-square distribution: the chance that a chi-square variable with the given degrees of freedom exceeds **x**. In a chi-square test, that probability is the p-value. CHIDIST is a **legacy function**. Google Sheets keeps it so older spreadsheets, including files imported from early versions of Excel, keep working. Its modern equivalent is [CHISQ.DIST.RT](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chisqdistrt-function), which takes the same arguments and returns the same value. New sheets should use CHISQ.DIST.RT, whose name makes the right-tail behaviour clear. ## A Quick Chi-Square Refresher The chi-square distribution describes the sum of squares of independent standard normal variables. It only takes non-negative values, is skewed to the right, and has one parameter: **degrees of freedom**. With few degrees of freedom the curve is bunched near zero with a long right tail; as degrees of freedom grow, it shifts right and becomes more symmetric. Its mean equals the degrees of freedom. In practice you meet it most often in hypothesis tests: goodness-of-fit tests (does observed data match an expected pattern?), tests of independence in contingency tables (are two categories related?), and tests about a variance. ## How CHIDIST Works CHIDIST takes a non-negative statistic and the degrees of freedom and returns the area under the chi-square curve to the right of that statistic. A large statistic means a small tail area, which is evidence against the null hypothesis. Note the direction: the name sounds like a general distribution function, but CHIDIST is **right-tailed**. The left-tailed version is CHISQ.DIST with `cumulative` set to TRUE. This is the most common source of confusion with the legacy name. ## Basic Examples ### Classic 5% threshold ``` =CHIDIST(3.841, 1) ``` Returns about 0.05. ### p-value for a goodness-of-fit test ``` =CHIDIST(B8, COUNT(B2:B6)-1) ``` With the statistic in B8 and five categories, uses 4 degrees of freedom. ### Same answer, modern function ``` =CHISQ.DIST.RT(3.841, 1) ``` Returns the same result as the first example. ### Left tail from CHIDIST ``` =1 - CHIDIST(5, 3) ``` Gives the left-tailed probability, equal to `CHISQ.DIST(5, 3, TRUE)`. ## Legacy and Modern Names | Legacy function | Modern equivalent | What it returns | | - | - | - | | CHIDIST | CHISQ.DIST.RT | Right-tail probability | | CHIINV | CHISQ.INV.RT | Value with a given right-tail probability | | CHITEST | CHISQ.TEST | p-value of a chi-square test | ## Common Use Cases - **Maintaining older workbooks**: understanding formulas written years ago - **Hypothesis tests**: p-values for goodness-of-fit and independence statistics - **Teaching**: matching textbook formulas that use the older name ## Common Errors - **#NUM!**: **x** is negative or **degrees\_freedom** is less than 1. - **#VALUE!**: An argument cannot be read as a number. - **Assuming a left tail**: CHIDIST is right-tailed. Using it where a cumulative probability is needed gives 1 minus the right answer. - **Wrong degrees of freedom**: Check whether your test calls for categories − 1 or (rows − 1) × (columns − 1). ## Tips and Best Practices - When editing an old sheet, consider swapping CHIDIST for CHISQ.DIST.RT; the result will not change. - Pair with [IF](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/if-function) to label results significant or not at a chosen level. - To work in the other direction, from probability to statistic, use [CHIINV](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chiinv-function) or CHISQ.INV.RT. ## Related Functions - [CHISQ.DIST.RT](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chisqdistrt-function): right-tailed probability (p-value) - [CHIINV](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chiinv-function): legacy inverse right-tailed function - [CHITEST](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chitest-function): legacy chi-square test - [CHISQ.DIST](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chisqdist-function): left-tailed probability or density - [IF](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/if-function): turn a p-value into a decision ## Example use case An analyst inherits a 2014 survey workbook that uses =CHIDIST(B8, 4) to report p-values. Knowing CHIDIST is the right-tailed function and equivalent to CHISQ.DIST.RT, they confirm the reported p-values are correct before updating the formulas. ## Need more help with Google Sheets formulas? Sign up for Better Analyst and get unlimited AI-powered formula generation, explanations, and advanced data analysis. [Create Free Account](https://betteranalyst.com/signup)[Try Formula Generator](https://betteranalyst.com/excel-ai) ## Google Sheets how-to guides - [How To Password Protect An Google Sheets File](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-password-protect-an-google-sheets-file) - [How To Remove Blank Rows In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-remove-blank-rows-in-google-sheets) - [How To Remove Duplicates In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-remove-duplicates-in-google-sheets) - [How To Separate Names In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-separate-names-in-google-sheets) - [How To Sort In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-sort-in-google-sheets) - [How To Split Cells In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-split-cells-in-google-sheets) - [How To Strikethrough In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-strikethrough-in-google-sheets) - [How To Subtract In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-subtract-in-google-sheets) ## Explore all Google Sheets formulas Browse our complete library of Google Sheets formula guides Compare your options ## Decide with evidence, not a sales pitch. 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