the formula for random selecting

  • Thread starter Thread starter Inquiring mind
  • Start date Start date
I

Inquiring mind

I would like to know to setup my spreadsheet to randomly select from a list
of text and also numbers. For instance, used in a drawing for contest.
 
=RANDBETWEEN(1,100) gives a random number in the range 1 to 100
so does
=RAND()*(100-1)+1
The former needs the Analysis Toolpac installed, the latter does not

=INDEX(A1:A100,RANDBETWEEN(1,100),1)
will randomly select an item (text or number) from a list in A1:A100

In all cases, for "random" read "quasi-random" in case there are purists
lurking <grin>

For random numbers without duplicates see
http://www.tushar-mehta.com/excel/newsgroups/rand_selection/index.html
best wishes
 
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