SUMMARY
This step-by-step article describes how you can use the RAND function to generate randomly sorted, uniformly distributed integers in Microsoft Excel 2000.
Excel does not include a built-in method for generating sets
of randomly sorted, uniformly distributed integers. This article describes how you can use the RAND function (which is
integral to Excel) to create a set of this kind.
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How to Generate Randomly Distributed Integers
Below is an example of a set of randomly sorted, uniformly distributed
integers from 1 to 10:
10 5 7 4 8 1 6 2 3 9
The set is said to be uniformly distributed because every value in the
range occurs exactly once.
To generate such a set of randomly sorted, uniformly distributed
integers, follow these steps:
- In a new worksheet, type the following:
A1: =RAND() B1: 1
A2: =RAND() B2: 2
A3: =RAND() B3: 3
A4: =RAND() B4: 4
A5: =RAND() B5: 5
A6: =RAND() B6: 6
A7: =RAND() B7: 7
A8: =RAND() B8: 8
A9: =RAND() B9: 9
A10: =RAND() B10: 10
- Select the range A1:B10.
- On the Data menu, click Sort.
- In the Sorted by list box, click Column A, and then click OK to sort the range.
After the sort is complete, cells B1:B10 contain a set of randomly sorted,
uniformly distributed integers that range from 1 to 10. Each time that the
range is sorted, the integers in B1:B10 are re-sorted randomly, which results in a new set.
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