The Excel FISHERINV function returns the inverse of the Fisher transformation — converting a transformed z value back into a correlation coefficient between −1 and 1.
Syntax
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
y | Required | The value (a Fisher-transformed z score) for which you want the inverse transformation. |
How to use it
FISHERINV reverses FISHER, applying x = (e^(2y) − 1) / (e^(2y) + 1) — the same as TANH(y). It maps any real number back into the −1 to 1 correlation range.
This is the closing step when working with correlation confidence intervals: after building an interval on the Fisher-transformed (normal) scale, FISHERINV converts the lower and upper endpoints back into correlation coefficients you can report.
Tip: Because the inverse maps all real inputs into (−1, 1), FISHERINV never errors on range — even very large y values just approach ±1.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter a Fisher-transformed value to convert it back to a correlation.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What does FISHERINV do?
FISHER does.Is FISHERINV(FISHER(x)) exactly x?
Can FISHERINV return an error?
#VALUE!.Is FISHERINV the same as TANH?
=FISHERINV(0.9730) equals =TANH(0.9730).Master functions like this in one day
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