Generating random numbers with normal distribution in Excel

excel random normal-distribution
ha.M.ed picture ha.M.ed · Jun 5, 2011 · Viewed 187.2k times · Source

I want to produce 100 random numbers with normal distribution (with µ=10, σ=7) and then draw a quantity diagram for these numbers.

How can I produce random numbers with a specific distribution in Excel 2010?

One more question:

When I produce, for example, 20 random numbers with RANDBETWEEN(Bottom,Top), the numbers change every time the sheet recalculates. How can I keep this from happening?

Answer

Excellll picture Excellll · Jun 6, 2011

Use the NORMINV function together with RAND():

=NORMINV(RAND(),10,7)

To keep your set of random values from changing, select all the values, copy them, and then paste (special) the values back into the same range.

Sample output (column A), 500 numbers generated with this formula:

enter image description here

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