Random number selection

K

kwidener

I am a Taining Coordinator for a major company. I am setting up
certification boadrs that require questioning of applicants. I have a bank
of 100 questions to choose from. I only want to ask 50. How can I get a
spread sheet that will randomly pick 50 numbers from 100 without repeating a
number?
 
T

Toppers

One way

Put numbers 1-100 in cells A1 to A100 (type 1 in A1, hold Ctrl and copy down
to A100)
Put "=RAND()" (no quotes) in column B and copy down

Highlight columns A& B, select SORT ... by Column B and select first 50 from
column A.

If questions are in table in Excel, you could use VLOOKUP to extract
questions.

HTH
 
R

Ragdyer

Try this:

Say in Z1, enter:
=RAND()
And copy down to Z100.

Then, wherever you wish to create your list, enter this formula:

=INDEX(ROW($A$1:$A$100),RANK(Z1,$Z$1:$Z$100))

And copy down 50 rows.

Each time you hit <F9>, you'll get a *new* random list.

You may wish to *turn off* auto calculation, to retain your list until you
choose to recalc.
 
K

kwidener

Hi Toppers,
I tried this suggestion but got fractions instead. Did I leave out a step?
 
T

Toppers

I assume you mean fractions in column A? Don't understand how you got this
but you colud put 1 in A1, 2 in A2, highlight both cells and copy down.

Take a look at Ragdyer solution ..it's very neat.

HTH
 
K

kwidener

Toppers, Hi, I found that I had entered the formular in wrong. After
crrrecting the formular, It worked Great. Thanks for keeping in touch with
this novice formular writter. I am also going to try the other trick.
 
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