Generating random numbers with normal distribution in Excel

Question

I want to produce 100 random numbers with normal distribution  with    10  s 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

User · Accepted Answer

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

User · Answer

The numbers generated by   NORMINV RAND   10 7    are uniformally distributed  If you want the numbers to be normally distributed  you will have to write a function I guess

User · Answer

About the recalculation   You can keep your set of random values from changing every time you make an adjustment  by adjusting the automatic recalculation  to  manual recalculate   Re calculations are then only done when you press F9  Or shift F9   See this link  though for older excel version than the current 2013  for some info about it  https   support office com en-us article Change-formula-recalculation-iteration-or-precision-73fc7dac-91cf-4d36-86e8-67124f6bcce4

User · Answer

Take a loot at the Wikipedia article on random numbers as it talks about using sampling techniques   You can find the equation for your normal distribution by plugging into this one     equation via Wikipedia   As for the second issue  go into Options under the circle Office icon  go to formulas  and change calculations to  Manual    That will maintain your sheet and not recalculate the formulas each time

User · Answer

Rand   does generate a uniform distribution of random numbers between 0 and 1  but the norminv  or norm inv  function is taking the uniform distributed Rand   as an input to generate the normally distributed sample set

User · Answer

IF you have excel 2007  you can use   NORMSINV RAND    SD MEAN   Because there was a big change in 2010 about excel s function

User · Answer

As  osknows said in a comment above  rather than an answer which is why I am adding this   the Analysis Pack includes Random Number Generation functions  e g  NORM DIST  NORM INV  to generate a set of numbers  A good summary link is at http   www bettersolutions com excel EUN147 YI231420881 htm

[excel] Generating random numbers with normal distribution in Excel

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