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RANDBETWEEN generating numbers outside range
Using Excel 2003. Simple task of trying to generate a pseudo-random number
between 1 and 52 (yes, a deck of cards). I'm populating the cells with =RANDBETWEEN(1,52). Many of the cells are displaying negative numbers. Any ideas? |
#2
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RANDBETWEEN generating numbers outside range
Are you sure that's exactly the formula you are using?
I entered =randbetwwen(1,52), filled it down 51 times, and got the expected results: a bunch of numbers between 1 and 52, none negative. Regards, Fred "Penny Black" wrote in message ... Using Excel 2003. Simple task of trying to generate a pseudo-random number between 1 and 52 (yes, a deck of cards). I'm populating the cells with =RANDBETWEEN(1,52). Many of the cells are displaying negative numbers. Any ideas? |
#3
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RANDBETWEEN generating numbers outside range
I cannot replicate this in 2003.
I get all positives between 1 and 52. I dragged down for 1000 rows and recalculated many times. No negatives. I can't think of a reason why you get negatives unless you have typed negative top and/or bottom parameters. Your example formula does not show that however. Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP On Tue, 25 May 2010 12:41:01 -0700, Penny Black wrote: Using Excel 2003. Simple task of trying to generate a pseudo-random number between 1 and 52 (yes, a deck of cards). I'm populating the cells with =RANDBETWEEN(1,52). Many of the cells are displaying negative numbers. Any ideas? |
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RANDBETWEEN generating numbers outside range
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#5
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RANDBETWEEN generating numbers outside range
Thanks for the link Stephen.
Do you know if this problem also relates to RANDBETWEEN function? Doesn't specifically state so but maybe?? I guess OP installing the hotfix wouldn't hurt. Gord On Tue, 25 May 2010 21:16:01 +0100, "Stephen Bye" wrote: The RAND function returns negative numbers in Excel 2003 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/834520 |
#6
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RANDBETWEEN generating numbers outside range
Penny Black -
My ideas are the same as I posted in the microsoft.public.mac.office.excel newsgroup: (A) Early Excel 2003 had a serious bug in its random number generator. Be sure to update to Excel 2003 SP3. (B) You may want to avoid duplicates, in which case search Bing or Google for "excel unique random numbers" (without the quotes). - Mike http://www.MikeMiddleton.com "Penny Black" wrote in message ... Using Excel 2003. Simple task of trying to generate a pseudo-random number between 1 and 52 (yes, a deck of cards). I'm populating the cells with =RANDBETWEEN(1,52). Many of the cells are displaying negative numbers. Any ideas? |
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