how do I generate test data

G

giles

I want to generate sample data - maybe 200 numbers from 1 to 7 but wieghted
towards one end - any ideas?
 
J

JulieD

Hi

Bernd Plumhoff posted this formula recently for generating random numbers
between two values (stored in A1 and B1) ... so select your 200 cells type
this formula and use control & enter to enter it into all the selected cells
at once.

=MIN($A$1,$B$1)+INT(RAND()*(MAX($A$1,$B$1)-MIN($A$1,$B$1)+1))

This however, doesn't weight them in any way.

Cheers
JulieD
 
J

JE McGimpsey

Weighted how?

Here's one way to get a distribution weighted toward 0. Select A1:A200,
and array-enter (CTRL-SHIFT_ENTER or CMD-RETURN):

=INT(RAND()*RAND()*7)+1

conversely, weighted toward 7 (also array-entered):

=7-INT(RAND()*RAND()*8)

You could also enter regularly each formula in cell A1 and copy down.
 
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