Use the RAND function to generate random numbers, possibly to facilitate sorting a list in random order. Use the RANDBETWEEN function for generating whole number values within an upper and lower limit. Use for generating pure numbers or a series of random dates between a starting and ending date.
- [Voiceover] Excel has two random number functions.…One is called "RAND".…One is called "RANDBETWEEN".…They're likely to be widely used by mathematicians,…perhaps engineers, but there's a broader use as well.…In this worksheet, I've got some data over here.…This could be transaction data, it happens to be HR data,…but imagine different kinds of data where,…every so often, you want to do some spot-checking.…How about some random checking on some of these records?…If we check 10 or 15 of these, maybe,…maybe that's a pretty good form of quality control…that says, "Yeah, we're doing our processing properly.…
"We've got our information in place," that sort of thing.…But how do we randomize the order of this list?…Right now, it's sorted by department.…Let's just add an additional column off to the right.…Now, we have some empty columns here,…we could simply use this.…Click out here, and use the function RAND.…The RAND function is one of those functions…that's followed by parentheses with nothing between the two.…
Author
Dennis Taylor
Released
5/26/2016- Understanding how the hierarchy of operators affects formula results
- Knowing when to use absolute vs. relative references
- Using Formula Builder for unfamiliar functions
- Displaying a worksheet's formulas and highlighting formula cells
- Converting formulas to values
- Creating 3D formulas to gather data from multiple sheets
- Creating and expanding nested IF functions; using AND, OR, and NOT with IF
- Looking up information with VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, MATCH, and INDEX
- Analyzing data with the statistical functions: MEDIAN, MODE, etc.
- Using the power functions: COUNTIF, SUMIF, COUNTIFS, AVERAGEIFS, and more
- Calculating financial data such as payments
- Performing basic math
- Calculating dates and times
- Editing text with functions
- Using array formulas and functions
- Referencing data in other cells and files
- Extracting information from Excel worksheets
Skill Level Intermediate
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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Welcome46s
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Exercise files25s
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1. Formula and Function Tools
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2. Formula and Function Tips and Shortcuts
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3. IF and Related Functions
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4. Lookup and Reference Functions
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Use MATCH and INDEX together4m 40s
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5. Statistical Functions
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6. Power Functions
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7. Selected Financial Functions
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8. Math Functions
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9. Date and Time Functions
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10. Text Functions
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11. Array Formulas and Functions
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12. Reference Functions
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13. Information Functions
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Conclusion
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Next steps25s
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Video: Generate random values with RAND and RANDBETWEEN