Return poisition of the smallest with criteria.

[eduzs]

I have four values in P Q R and S columns (int numbers).
I need a formula that returns the position (match) of the smallest value, BUT when there's two or more values with this same smallest value??? In this case I want it to return a aleatory position between those smallest equal values.
Without macro will be better.
Examples:
10,20,15,9 returns 4 (position of the smallest).
40,2,30,8 returns 2 (position of the smallest).
3,3,7,5 returns 2 (aleatory between 1 and 2).
10,4,4,4 returns 3 (aleatory between 2,3,4).
Thanks.

 

[eduzs]

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[JoeMo]

If the 4 values are all the same (say 4,4,4,4) - what should the formula return?

 

[Vidar]

Hi

Might not be the most effective formula, but I think it does what you want. BTW, is "aleatory" the same as "random"?
If your first row is in P2 to S2, then try this array formula (must be entered with Ctrl+Shift+Enter)
=IF(COUNTIF(P2:S2,MIN(P2:S2))=1,MATCH(MIN(P2:S2),P2:S2,0),RANDBETWEEN(MIN(IF(P2:S2=MIN(P2:S2),COLUMN(P2:S2)-COLUMN(P2)+1)),MAX(IF(P2:S2=MIN(P2:S2),COLUMN(P2:S2)-COLUMN(P2)+1))))

Vidar

 

[pgc01]

Hi

Try in I4:

=SMALL(IF(C4:F4=MIN(C4:F4),COLUMN(C4:F4)-COLUMN(C4)+1),RANDBETWEEN(1,COUNTIF(C4:F4,MIN(C4:F4))))

This is an array formula, you have to confirm it with CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER and not just ENTER.


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padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td><td style="border-width:1px;border-color:#000000; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.4em; padding-right:0.5em; padding-bottom:0.25em;text-align:right;border-width: 1px;border-color:#888888; "> </td></tr><tr><td colspan=11 style="background:#9CF; padding-left:1em" > [Book1]Sheet1</td></tr></table>

 

[eduzs]

If 4, 4, 4, 4 return any random position 1, 2, 3 or 4, because there's a tie.
Yes, "aleatory" is "random", sorry.
Thanks! I will test the solutions and post the result here.

 

[Vidar]

If 4, 4, 4, 4 return any random position 1, 2, 3 or 4, because there's a tie.
Yes, "aleatory" is "random", sorry.
Thanks! I will test the solutions and post the result here.

You will find that pgc01 solution is the best one.
My suggestion might give a wrong result if the equal numbers are split into groups (4, 4, 10, 4).

 

[Peter_SSs]

I'm assuming that if data can be like PGC's example then that should return 1, 2 or 4 (but not 3) - as PGC's formula does.

If you are using Excel 2010 or later, you might also try these formulas if you prefer to not require Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

Given that you only have 4 columns, I've also hard-coded the column numbers {1,2,3,4} in my column T formula.
In case there are, or may later be, more columns I've included the more general option in column U.

I've included PGC's and Vidar's formulas too for comparison & also modified PGC'c for the 4 column only option. I did not do that for Vidar's because of the first point above. If my assumption is correct, then you can see that the result in X6 is not a valid result.
Edit: I've just noticed Vidar's last post noting this issue.

Excel Workbook
	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X
1						PS4 cols only	PSExpandable	PGCExpandable	PGC4 cols only	VidarExpandable
2		10	20	15	9	4	4	4	4	4
3		40	2	30	8	2	2	2	2	2
4		3	3	7	5	2	2	1	1	2
5		10	4	4	4	4	4	2	3	3
6		3	3	7	3	1	2	4	4	3
7
Smallest

 

[eduzs]

pgc01 formula seems work great and simple. I didn't test all possible combinations. The formula can return any of 1, 2, 3 or 4 position, based in the columns values.
Peter: non matrix formulas are always a good option. I will try your solution later.
All lines in your table returns true possible results, except line 6, 3 is not the desired answer.
Thank you guys.

 

[Peter_SSs]

All lines in your table returns true possible results, except line 6, 3 is not the desired answer.

Yes, I did point out that was not a valid answer from Vidar's formula.

...you can see that the result in X6 is not a valid result.