Microsoft Excel comes equipped with a multitude of functions that can help make your work easier and more efficient. One such function is the RAND function, which is used to generate random numbers. In this tutorial, we will take a look at how you can use the RAND function in Microsoft Excel.
To get started, type in “=RAND()” into a cell in Excel. This will generate a random number between 0 and 1. You can also use the “%” symbol to generate a random percentage. It is important to note that this function will recalculate every time you change the workbook, press “F9”, or recalculate the result.
If you want to generate a range of random numbers, you can use the “RAND” function in conjunction with the “AutoFill” feature. Simply select the cell containing the function and drag the fill handle to the range of cells you want to populate. However, it is important to remember that the function will recalculate each time you make a change.
To prevent the function from recalculating, you can convert the formula result to values. You can do this by copying the range of cells and then right-clicking to select “Paste as Values”. This will turn the formula results into static values that will not change when you make a change in the workbook.
It is essential to understand how to force recalculation in a range of cells containing the RAND or RANDBETWEEN function. The easiest way to do this is to select the range of cells, press “F2” to enter edit mode, and then press “Enter” to update the cells. This will force Excel to recalculate the cells and generate new random numbers.
In conclusion, the RAND function is an excellent tool for generating random numbers in Microsoft Excel. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily use the function and force recalculation in a range of cells containing the RAND or RANDBETWEEN function.