Need help creating a chart with standard deviation

**ascrit** · 08-28-2015, 09:36 AM

Hello experts, hoping for some quick help today.

I have a dataset that I am looking to chart. The data set is divided up into 6 groups. Most groups contain 2 values but one group has 5 values and 1 group has 1 value. I want to create a bar chart that shows two things:
1. The average of each group
2. The standard deviation of each group

I tried using a pivot chart to get the average of each group but I was unable to get the bars of standard deviation. Can anyone help??

I have attached a sample of my data as well as a picture of it.
Sample Data.xlsx

Capture.JPG

**MrShorty** · 08-28-2015, 05:00 PM

It's not clear to me exactly what you want to do. I cannot be sure if your question is really about creating the chart or if it is more about calculating these values in the spreadsheet.

Since you obviously know how to create a column chart, I will suggest the following approach:

1) Compute average and standard deviation in the spreadsheet for each age group. You have already computed the standard deviation, so I would suggest adding a column to compute the average as well.
2) select the column with averages and insert column (or bar if you prefer, your sample shows a column chart) chart.
3) Adjust category axis and value ranges for the data series, if Excel got them wrong at chart creation.
4) Insert error bars, then format them as "custom" error bars using the standard deviation column for the plus and minus error bar. https://support.office.com/en-us/art...5-864049a145f0

Will that work for you?

**ascrit** · 08-30-2015, 04:50 PM

Thanks for the response, I appreciate your attempt to help. I actually did end up using a pivot chart and then manually entered in lines for the standard deviation. Not as automatic as I would like but it got the job done.

Thanks again!!