excel tutorialRandom Excel Numbers
Excel has two very useful functions when it comes to creating random numbers. The RAND function and the RANDBETWEEN function. Learn all about it in this chapter.
Rand Function
The RAND function creates a random decimal number between 0 and 1.
1. Select cell A1.
2. Type RAND() and press Enter. The RAND function takes no arguments.
3. To create a list of random numbers, simply click on the lower right corner of cell A1 and drag it down.
Result:
Note that cell A1 has changed. That is because random numbers change every time a cell on the sheet is calculated.
4. If you don't want this, simply copy the random numbers and paste them as values.
Result:
5. Select cell C1 and look at the formula bar.
This cell holds a value now and not the RAND function.
Randbetween Function
The RANDBETWEEN function returns a random whole number between two boundaries.
1. Select cell A1.
2. Type RANDBETWEEN(50,75) and press Enter.
Result:
3. If you want to create random decimal numbers (not whole numbers) between 50 and 75, modify the RAND function as follows:
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