The covariance tool calculates pairwise covariances of given variables. Use this tool to calculate any number of covariances at the same time. The variables for which the covariances are calulated are specified by the ``Input Range:'' entry. The given range can be grouped either by columns or by rows.
For example, you want to calculate the covariance of two variables, one in a column A and the other in a column B. Both variables have 10 values in rows between one and ten. First you should enter A1:B10 to the ``Input Range:'' entry. Secondly, select the ``Columns'' radio button next to the ``Grouped By:'' label. Then specify the output options described above and press the OK button.
If you have labels, for example the names of the variables, in the first row of the given range, you should check the ``Labels'' checkbox. This leaves the first row (or the first column if the data is grouped by rows) of the input range out of the analysis. In addition, the names of the variables are printed in the output table.
The results are printed into a table where each column and row is labeled according to the names of the variables. If the names are not given in the input range, Gnumeric generates them. The calculated covariances are given in the table. For example, the covariance of the previous example, i.e, covariance between a variable in a column A and B, can be read in the second column and third row of the results table (below the column labeled ``Column 1'' and in the row labeled ``Column 2'').