![]() RAND() is a volatile function, meaning that a new random number is generated every time the worksheet is calculated. ![]() It returns a random decimal number (real number) between 0 and 1. The RAND function in Excel is one of the two functions specially designed for generating random numbers. Okay, this quite lengthy technical introduction ends and we are getting to practical and more useful things.Įxcel RAND function - generate random real numbers They offer free services to generate random numbers, games and lotteries, color codes, random names, passwords, alphanumeric strings, and other random data. If you are looking for true random data, you can probably use a third-party random number generator such as whose randomness comes from atmospheric noise. So, if someone still works with an old Excel version, you'd better not use the RAND function with large simulation models. In early Excel versions, prior to Excel 2003, the random generation algorithm had a relatively small period (less than 1 million nonrecurring random number sequence) and it failed several standard tests of randomness on lengthy random sequences.In other words, when using the random number generator in Excel, you cannot get a repeatable sequence with the RAND or RANDBETWEEN function, nor with VBA, nor by any other means. And every time an Excel random function is called, a new seed is used that returns a unique random sequence. Technically, a seed is the starting point for generating a sequence of random numbers. ![]() There is no way to seed either Excel RAND or RANDBETWEEN function, which are rumored to be initialized from the computer's system time.For a more scientific explanation, please check out. The outcome of the toss is six possible values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and each of these values is equally likely to occur. A good example of the uniform distribution is tossing a single die. The Excel RAND and RANDBETWEEN functions generate pseudo-random numbers from the Uniform distribution, aka rectangular distribution, where there is equal probability for all values that a random variable can take on.Well, what do we know about the random number generator in Excel? This is the reason why it has never been documented and will hardly ever be. What it means for you is that, in theory, random numbers generated by Excel are predictable, provided that someone knows all the details of the generator's algorithm. Like most computer programs, Excel random number generator produces pseudo-random numbers by using some mathematical formulas. Let's take a closer look at the Excel random generator algorithm so that you know what you can expect from it, and what you cannot. But don't write it off immediately :) Pseudo-random numbers produced by the Excel random functions are fine for many purposes. ![]()
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