excel "random" numbers generation

alainruttiens · August 29th, 2007, 3:48 pm

I have heared about Excel function NORMSIN(RAND()) to generate so-called "random" numbers (with a limited quality, ok): my Excel 2003 do not "understand" this function: is there any trick ? or the function is not correctly labelled?Thanks for helpARhedge fund asset manager

Zub · August 29th, 2007, 4:25 pm

Your question perhaps not well posed. However, assuming that:1. The "random numbers" you have heard of and which you want to obtain are drawn from a Standard Normal Distribution, i.e. N(0,1)2. Your Excel is in English (not quite common among French people

)Then you should try to add a "V" to your function: NORMSINV(RAND())RAND generates a random number from a uniform distribution in the interval [0:1] or (0:1) (Not quite sure about that, hopefully is the second option) and then you just use the Inverse Cumulative Normal Distribution N^{-1}(x) CheersZub

quartz · August 30th, 2007, 8:28 am

On Excel 2003 also make sure you have a service pack/fix or rand() will give you even more headaches than usual...

alainruttiens · August 30th, 2007, 3:07 pm

thanks a lot, Zub, for your useful improvement - it runs! (for other aspects, like range, validity a.s.o., no worry, I take care)thanks also, Qwartz, but I'm not so happy with the heavy anf lengthy way of Microsoft servicing....Alain