Generating a percentage...

[Steel Bananana]

Hi!
I'm running an online body jewelry business, and I would love to do a
"roulette" type of promotion. Basically, I want to enter a coupon code into
one column, and create a random percentage in the second column. There
doesn't need to be any correlation between the two columns, and repitition is
not an issue.
If it's possible, I don't mind copying and pasting the formula from one cell
to the next to generate the number as I go along...
One issue that I will have is that I want it to generate one of the following:
10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, and 50%.
(Obviously, I want to keep the 50%'s to a minimum, but random is random...)
Thanks in advance for the help!
Kim

PS: Excel 2003 (or I could do it at work with 2000 if it's easier...)
http://www.steelbanana.com

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

One way

=TEXT(ROUND(RAND()*(0.5-0.1)+0.1,1),"0%")


Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

 

[RagDyer]

Since you expressed an inclination to perhaps have the 50% show up
*slightly* less often then the rest of the discounts, you could try this
approach, where the chances of what discount is *randomly* chosen is based
on how many 50's are in your list, compared to the number of lesser
percents.

You could still say it is a "random" pick of your discount list.
Just don't show anyone what your discount list looks like.

In an out of the way section of your sheet, say in Column Y, enter your
discounts in an "unbalanced" list (Y1:Y20).
5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,50,5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,5,10,15

In Z1 enter:
=RAND()
And copy down to Z20.

Now, use this formula to generate your discount percent:

=INDEX($Y$1:$Y$20,RANK($Z$1:$Z$20,$Z$1:$Z$20))

You can use this formula as is, if it's entered in Row 1 to Row 20.
If it's used beyond those rows, it must be entered as an array formula,
<Ctrl> <Shift> <Enter>.

You can of course, adjust the "chances" in your list to suit your *honesty*,
or your pocket book.<bg>
--

HTH,

RD
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Please keep all correspondence within the Group, so all may benefit!
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Hi!
I'm running an online body jewelry business, and I would love to do a
"roulette" type of promotion. Basically, I want to enter a coupon code into
one column, and create a random percentage in the second column. There
doesn't need to be any correlation between the two columns, and repitition
is
not an issue.
If it's possible, I don't mind copying and pasting the formula from one cell
to the next to generate the number as I go along...
One issue that I will have is that I want it to generate one of the
following:
10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, and 50%.
(Obviously, I want to keep the 50%'s to a minimum, but random is random...)
Thanks in advance for the help!
Kim

PS: Excel 2003 (or I could do it at work with 2000 if it's easier...)
http://www.steelbanana.com