XL: How to Use the Histogram Add-in

• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0a, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

Included in the Analysis ToolPak that ships with Microsoft Excel, is a Histogram tool. This article describes the steps for creating a histogram with a chart from a sample set of data.

MORE INFORMATION

Before using the Histogram tool, you need to make sure the Analysis ToolPak Add-in is loaded. To verify whether the Analysis ToolPak is loaded, do the following:

1. On the Tools menu, click Add-Ins.

2. In the Add-Ins dialog box, find Analysis ToolPak in the list of add-ins. Make sure the Analysis ToolPak check box is selected.

3. click OK.

Creating a Histogram

1. Enter the following in a new worksheet:

       A1:  87      B1: 20
       A2:  27      B2: 40
       A3:  45      B3: 60
       A4:  62      B4: 80
       A5:   3      B5:
       A6:  52      B6:
       A7:  20      B7:
       A8:  43      B8:
       A9:  74      B9:
      A10:  61     B10:
   
   

2. On the Tools menu, click Data Analysis, and in the Data Analysis dialog box, click Histogram, and then click OK.

3. In the Input Range edit box, type A1:A10.

4. In the Bin Range edit box, enter B1:B4.

5. In the Output options, make sure that both New Worksheet Ply and Output chart are selected, and then click OK.

   A1: Bin     B1: Frequency
   A2:  20     B2:        2
   A3:  40     B3:        1
   A4:  60     B4:        3
   A5:  80     B5:        3
   A6: More    B6:        1

Microsoft Excel counts the number of data points in each data bin. A data point is included in a particular data bin if the number is greater than the lowest bound and equal to or less than the greater bound for the data bin. In the example above, the bin that corresponds to data values from 0 to 20 contains two data points, 3 and 20.

NOTE: If you omit the bin range, Microsoft Excel creates a set of evenly distributed bins between the data's minimum and maximum values.

REFERENCES

For more information about Creating a Histogram in Microsoft Excel version 7.0, click Answer Wizard on the Help menu and type:

   tell me how to make a histogram

    Histogram