GAUSS in Collabora Office: Interpret the Normal Area Relative to the Mean

=GAUSS(Number)

Number is a standardized value, often called z. The dedicated Collabora help explicitly defines GAUSS(x)=NORMSDIST(x)-0.5. Consequently, GAUSS(0)=0, positive inputs give positive values and negative inputs give negative values.

For positive z, GAUSS(z) is the normal area between zero and z. For negative z it is a signed area relative to zero, so a negative output is legitimate. It is not a negative probability assigned to an event.

The full left-tail cumulative probability is 0.5+GAUSS(z), while the right-tail probability is 0.5-GAUSS(z). These identities depend on the standard normal distribution’s center at zero and total area one.

Put −2, −1, 0, 1, 2 in A2:A6. Enter =GAUSS(A2) in B2 and fill down. Independent targets are approximately −0.477249868, −0.341344746, 0, 0.341344746 and 0.477249868.

In C2 enter =0.5+B2 and fill down for left-tail probabilities. The independent targets are approximately 0.022750132, 0.158655254, 0.5, 0.841344746 and 0.977249868.

In D2 enter =0.5-B2 for right-tail probabilities. C+D targets one in every row. Label B as a signed area rather than a cumulative probability, and use probability labels only for C and D.

For a positive z, the probability between −z and z is =2*GAUSS(z). At z=1, the independent result is approximately 0.682689492; at z=2 it is approximately 0.954499736.

For a nonsymmetric interval from −1 to 2, use =GAUSS(2)-GAUSS(-1). The independent target is approximately 0.818594614. The two half-unit offsets cancel in the subtraction.

Using GAUSS(2) alone would account only for the interval from zero to two. Write both endpoints in the worksheet so that a missing lower limit is visible during review.

Suppose a model has mean 100 and standard deviation 15. An original-scale value of 130 has standardized score (130-100)/15=2.

Put 130 in F2, 100 in F3 and 15 in F4. =0.5+GAUSS((F2-F3)/F4) has independent target approximately 0.977249868. This is the modeled probability at or below 130, conditional on the normal model and supplied parameters.

GAUSS does not estimate mean or standard deviation from those cells and does not test whether observations follow a normal distribution. The standardization formula requires a positive standard deviation in the same measurement units as F2 and F3.

The official examples round GAUSS(0.19) to 0.08 and GAUSS(0.0375) to 0.01. More detailed independent values are approximately 0.075345435 and 0.014956830.

These differences are display rounding, not contradictory definitions. For a downstream probability calculation, retain the computed value rather than replacing it with the two-decimal display. The second example is especially sensitive to confusing a rounded value with an exact hundredth.

A negative GAUSS output does not need ABS unless the intended event is an unsigned area. Taking ABS indiscriminately would break the left-tail formula for negative inputs. If a cumulative probability appears around 0.34 where 0.84 was expected, check the missing 0.5 offset.

The function takes a standardized numeric input. Exact coercion rules and native error codes are not established by the short dedicated help. Extreme-tail subtraction can lose precision; validate critical tail calculations in the installed application rather than treating ordinary examples as a numerical guarantee.

The exact function is documented in Collabora Office 26.04 desktop help. The snapshot was retrieved on 2026-10-13 and hash-verified on October 15, 2026. Desktop help is not proof of Online or mobile availability. First introduced release and last functioning version are unknown; the dedicated source does not establish them.

No native Collabora or WPS execution occurred. Numerical values are independent mathematical expectations, not certification of application errors or all numerical limits. Formulas use English names and semicolon separators.

• Collabora Office 26.04: GAUSS.
• Editorial testing standards.