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Dynamic array function
RANDARRAY
Returns an array of random numbers of the size you specify.
OccasionalDifficulty 1400 · AdvancedUsage rank #129 of 520
When to use it
An array of random numbers of any size: decimals by default, integers between bounds with the last argument TRUE. Recalculates constantly.
The shape of it
- Syntax
=RANDARRAY([rows], [columns], [min], [max], [whole_number])
Worked examples
Random decimals
=RANDARRAY(3) → {0.42;0.87;0.13}
Three random decimals down a column.
Random integers
=RANDARRAY(5,1,1,100,TRUE) → {17;83;4;56;91}
Five whole numbers from 1 to 100.
Shuffle a list
=SORTBY(A2:A11,RANDARRAY(10)) → shuffled list
A random order of ten names, with no repeats.
Worth knowing
- Freeze with Copy, Paste Special, Values.
- Random sample of n rows: =TAKE(SORTBY(data,RANDARRAY(ROWS(data))),n).
- Random dates: RANDARRAY(n,1,start_date,end_date,TRUE).
Where it goes wrong
- #SPILL! when the output area is blocked.
- Every recalculation changes the values.
Related
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