How to Use the COVARIANCE.S Function in WPS on Windows

This how-to guide includes 4 operation topics for COVARIANCE.S, all available without membership, so you can choose a topic from the index and follow the steps directly.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Enter the COVARIANCE.S function

Entry point: Formulas tab → formula bar

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet and go to the worksheet where you want the result.
2. Select the cell that should display the result.
3. Type = to begin the formula.
4. Continue with COVARIANCE.S(.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: the selected cell enters formula editing mode.
• What you can do next: function name or syntax hints appear so you can continue entering arguments.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: if you do not start with =, the content may be treated as plain text.

2. Fill in the arguments and complete the calculation

Entry point: current cell in formula editing mode

1. Enter the first sample data range in the first argument position.
2. Add the separator and enter the second sample data range.
3. Check that the closing parenthesis is complete.
4. Press Enter to confirm the calculation.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: the calculated result appears in the current cell.
• What you can do next: when you select the cell again, the full formula is visible in the formula bar.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: if the two data ranges do not contain the same number of data points, the formula may return an error.
• Environment note: keep the input ranges as valid numeric data whenever possible.

3. Use cross-sheet references

Entry point: formula bar

1. In the result cell, type =COVARIANCE.S(.
2. Switch to the worksheet that contains the first data range and select the range.
3. Return to or switch to another worksheet and select the second data range.
4. Complete the closing parenthesis and press Enter.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: the formula includes worksheet references.
• What you can do next: after saving the file, the cross-sheet formula relationship remains available.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: selecting the wrong referenced range changes the result.
• Environment note: referenced worksheets and cell ranges need to remain valid.

4. Check automatic result updates

Entry point: a cell that already contains a COVARIANCE.S result

1. Find either source data range used by the formula.
2. Change one of the values.
3. Return to the result cell and review the updated value.
4. If needed, recheck whether the referenced ranges are correct.

Success Criteria

• Interface result: the result updates when the source data changes.
• What you can do next: continue analysis based on the updated result.

Tips While Using

• Common mistake: changing an unrelated cell outside the referenced ranges does not affect the result.