SQRTPI
Returns the square root of (number × π). Convenient for statistics and probability formulas involving π.
SQRTPI(number)Arguments
numberThe number by which π is multiplied (must be ≥ 0).
=SQRTPI(1)√π ≈ 1.7725
=SQRTPI(2)√(2π) ≈ 2.5066
- •Returns #NUM! if number is negative
- •Equivalent to SQRT(number * PI())
- •Useful in normal-distribution and gamma-function formulas
- •Passing a negative number, which returns a #NUM! error since a negative value multiplied by π would require taking the square root of a negative number, which isn't defined for real numbers
- •Assuming SQRTPI computes the square root of π itself - it actually computes the square root of (your number times π), so SQRTPI(1) gives √π, not SQRTPI() computing a fixed constant
- •Manually writing SQRT(number*PI()) without realizing SQRTPI does exactly this in a single, more concise function call
SQRTCalculates a plain square root without the automatic multiplication by π that SQRTPI performs.PIReturns the constant π on its own, the value that SQRTPI multiplies by your input before taking the square root.POWERCan replicate SQRTPI using POWER(number*PI(),0.5), though SQRTPI is more direct and readable for this specific calculation.Does SQRTPI(1) return the square root of π?
Yes - SQRTPI(number) calculates the square root of (number × π), so SQRTPI(1) specifically gives you √π.
Why does SQRTPI return a #NUM! error?
The input number is negative - multiplying a negative number by π still gives a negative result, and Excel can't take the square root of a negative number.
Is SQRTPI just a shortcut for SQRT(number*PI())?
Yes, exactly - SQRTPI exists purely for convenience and readability when π needs to be factored into a square root calculation, which comes up often in statistics and probability formulas.
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