Microsoft Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application featuring formulas used for organizing, calculating and formatting data. It’s usually bundled by Microsoft in the Office Suite which is compatible with other Microsoft applications. In 1982, the earliest software program released was called the Multiplan, which has the same features as with Excel. With Excel an Excel consultant can do quick and easy sorting, formatting and filtering of the data, advanced charting, etc. But one must know many of the functions available. The free Excel help articles on this site are for that exact purpose, to help the Excel consultants in their efforts.

Through Microsoft Excel, the Excel consultant can do summation, analysis and reporting of data using the formulas and functions of available. Microsoft Excel is used for business and engineering applications around the world. Excel has led the global spreadsheet market for numbers of years and still continuing to be the most popular program for consumers and businesses. One of the functions in Excel is the RAND function, which is under the category of Mathematical functions.

How to Use RAND Function in Excel 2000 Generating Distributed Integers Randomly?

Microsoft does not include fixed method in generating sets of uniformly and randomly sorted as well as distributed integers. In generating distributed integers randomly, the user must have to follow these four steps:

  • In a new worksheet, type this examples like: B1: =RAND() C1: 1, B2: =RAND() C2: 2, B3: =RAND() C3: 3 and so on.
  • Select in the given examples above such as B1:C10.
  • On the displayed menu “Data”, select Sort.
  • In the list box called “Sorted by”, you have to click Column B and then click the OK button to sort the range of cells.

After you are finished sorting, cells B1:C10 is containing sorted sets randomly and uniformly disseminated integers ranging from one to ten. When the range is being sorted, the integers in B1:C10 are randomly sorted again resulting to a new set.

Be reminded that RAND function should’t be used in the earlier versions of Microsoft Excel. However, it is used and compatible with Microsoft Excel 2003. Excel formula is generated in random value from 0.0 to 1.0. In using this Excel function, it must need to be followed by a parenthesis, although the Rand function contains no arguments. The Syntax for RAND function is “=RAND()”.

Random Numbers from the Gaussian Distribution:

This formula for Excel computes lone random number from Gaussian distribution of 0.0 mean and 1.0 SD. The RAND() function calculates single random number from zero to one. The function of NORMSINV() takes the fraction of zero and one then it tells you of how many average deviations the user needs to go below or above the mean for an increasing Gaussian distribution containing the fraction of the whole population. Thus, you will get the random numbers drawn from Gaussian distribution through multiplying the standard deviation and adding the mean.

In the earlier version of Microsoft Excel, RAND function is used as the pseudo-random generation number algorithm on which the randomness standard tests performance was not enough and sufficient. This was implemented for the Microsoft Excel 2003. Subsequently, it passes similar standard test battery. The test battery is called Diehard.

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