# Google Sheets CHIINV Function: Syntax, Examples & Tips - URL: https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chiinv-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 inverse of the right-tailed chi-square distribution. Legacy version of CHISQ.INV.RT. ``` =CHIINV(probability, 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 CHIINV you need in plain EnglishGenerate Formula ## Parameters | Parameter | Required | Description | | - | - | - | | **probability** | Yes | The right-tail probability, between 0 and 1. | | **degrees\_freedom** | Yes | The number of degrees of freedom. Decimals are truncated; must be at least 1. | ## What Is CHIINV? CHIINV returns the value of a chi-square variable whose **right-tail** probability equals the probability you supply. For a significance level of 0.05, it returns the critical value a test statistic must exceed to be significant. CHIINV is a **legacy function**. Google Sheets supports it for compatibility with older spreadsheets. The modern equivalent is [CHISQ.INV.RT](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chisqinvrt-function), which takes identical arguments and returns the same number. Use the modern name in new work. ## Chi-Square Background 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 CHIINV Works CHIINV is the inverse of [CHIDIST](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chidist-function). If `CHIDIST(x, df)` returns *p*, then `CHIINV(p, df)` returns *x*. Despite the general-sounding name, CHIINV works from the **right** tail. It is not the inverse of the left-tailed cumulative distribution; that job belongs to [CHISQ.INV](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chisqinv-function). Mixing the two up turns a 5% critical value into a 95% one. ## Basic Examples ### 5% critical value, 1 degree of freedom ``` =CHIINV(0.05, 1) ``` Returns about 3.841. ### 1% critical value, 5 degrees of freedom ``` =CHIINV(0.01, 5) ``` Returns about 15.086. ### Modern equivalent ``` =CHISQ.INV.RT(0.05, 1) ``` Returns the same 3.841. ### Check the inverse ``` =CHIDIST(CHIINV(0.1, 8), 8) ``` Returns 0.1. ## Legacy Function Map | Legacy | Modern | Purpose | | - | - | - | | CHIINV | CHISQ.INV.RT | Critical value from right-tail probability | | CHIDIST | CHISQ.DIST.RT | Right-tail probability from a value | | CHITEST | CHISQ.TEST | p-value from observed and expected tables | ## Common Use Cases - **Updating older workbooks**: recognising and replacing legacy formulas - **Significance thresholds**: the minimum statistic needed to reject a null hypothesis - **Textbook exercises**: matching examples written with the older name ## Common Errors - **#NUM!**: **probability** is outside 0 to 1, or **degrees\_freedom** is less than 1. - **#VALUE!**: Non-numeric arguments. - **Passing 0.95 instead of 0.05**: CHIINV expects the right-tail area, so the significance level goes in, not the confidence level. - **Assuming a left-tail inverse**: For left-tail percentiles, use CHISQ.INV. ## Tips and Best Practices - Replacing CHIINV with CHISQ.INV.RT is safe; results are identical. - Compare a statistic against the critical value with [IF](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/if-function) to label results automatically. - Round critical values with [ROUND](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/round-function) to three decimals for reports. ## Related Functions - [CHISQ.INV.RT](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chisqinvrt-function): critical value from a right-tail probability - [CHIDIST](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chidist-function): legacy right-tailed probability - [CHITEST](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chitest-function): legacy chi-square test - [CHISQ.INV](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/chisqinv-function): inverse of the left-tailed distribution - [ROUND](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/round-function): round results for reporting ## Example use case A student working through an older statistics workbook sees =CHIINV(0.05, 2) and gets 5.991. Recognising it as the 5% critical value, they confirm their test statistic of 7.3 is significant and update the formula to CHISQ.INV.RT. ## 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 Freeze A Row In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-freeze-a-row-in-google-sheets) - [How To Freeze Panes In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-freeze-panes-in-google-sheets) - [How To Highlight Duplicates In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-highlight-duplicates-in-google-sheets) - [How To Insert Checkbox In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-insert-checkbox-in-google-sheets) - [How To Insert Multiple Rows In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-insert-multiple-rows-in-google-sheets) - [How To Lock A Row In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-lock-a-row-in-google-sheets) - [How To Lock Cells In Google Sheets](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-lock-cells-in-google-sheets) - [How To Make A Copy Of An Google Sheets Sheet](https://betteranalyst.com/google-sheets/how-to-make-a-copy-of-an-google-sheets-sheet) ## 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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