Re: random numbers

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No No No No No!
Do NOT use ATP for any of its stat functions, unless you want to demonstrate the degree to which MS can demonstrate total ineptitude when it comes to long-standing (since 1990, at least) problems with many of its functions (core work*** functions, as well as those supplied by the analysis ToolPak).

PopTools is a free add-in that will do the trick; unlike MS, its author is good about documenting what's going on (he uses the very modern Mersenne Twister for the underlying variates).

Many of us who write add-ins for this stuff use a Box-Muller algorithm when the variates aren't from a truncated distribution; I assume the (IMO excellent) commercial package Crystal Ball approaches this differently, given its age.

There are more free add-ins out there for what you request, but none I have seen are as well documented, and modern, as PopTools.

HTH
Dave Braden


Martin P wrote:
Go to Tools, Data Analysis, Random Number Generation and choose the distribution giving your required mean and standard deviation. The mean and standard deviation of the list generated will not be exactly the same as those you entered. First multiply every item by the required standard deviation divided by 6.2. You will now have the required standard deviation. The mean will also have changed. Add the required mean minus the new mean to every item.

"Randi R" wrote:

How do I generate random numbers from a normal distribution in excel? I want to generate a set of random numbers with a normal distribution of (mean=162.7, standard deviation=6.2)

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