Having an outcome occur randomly a given percentage of the time

[jrsimon25]

Hello, I'm new to this so I hope I'm doing this correctly.

Is there a way to write a formula so that one outcome occurs randomly a given percentage of the time and another outcome occurs the rest of the time?

For instance, I want the number 1 to randomly be entered 40% and the number 2 to be entered the rest of the time (or 60% of the time).

If there is a way to do this, how?

Thank you in advance

 

[JoeMo]

Maybe:

Book1.xlsm
	A	B
1	1	0.04968
Sheet3

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
A1	A1	=IF(B1<=0.4,1,2)
B1	B1	=RAND()

To run trials press the F9 key to cause recalculation and a new value in B1. If you run enough trials, 1 should be returned in A1 in about 40% of the trials.

 

[Peter_SSs]

Welcome to the MrExcel board!

Does this do what you want? Change the 40 for a different percentage.

=MATCH(RANDBETWEEN(0,99),{0,40})

 

[Sulprobil]

If I understand you correctly, you like to set a certain percentage x%, and you need one event to occur exactly x% in y simulations, the other non-event exactly (1-x)%?
So if x is 40, and y=100, you want to get 100 random results but 40 events vs 60 non-events exactly.
I needed this to generate 45% male names and 55% female names (or a bit more complex, 30% American, 40% European and 30% Asian countries), for example.
If my assumption is correct, then I can provide a link if the moderators agree.

 

[Peter_SSs]

I can provide a link if the moderators agree.

Any links must conform to the Forum Rules particularly 2, 3, 4 & 5

 

[Sulprobil]

Any links must conform to the Forum Rules particularly 2, 3, 4 & 5

Sure, and I think it will, but some moderator needs to agree, or my link would be the 0.004% event, I suppose.

 

[Sulprobil]

Google for sulprobil sbexactrandhistogrm.