Random number given standard dviation and mean

[jason8]

Is there a function similar to RANDBETWEEN that allows you to input standard deviation and mean for a random, normally distributed number? I know how to use the Random Number Generator but wondered if there was a way to do it in each cell. The Random Number Generator is a very manual process.

Thanks.

 

[shg]

=norminv(rand(), mean, sd)

 

[jason8]

Thank you. It works but is there a way to lock the cell once it has completed the task the first time so that every time you enter another cell somewhere else it does not recalculate another random number?

 

[shg]

You can ...

o Generate random variates using the formula, then copy the data and paste as values, or

o Enable iteration, and use a formula in A2 like

=if($a$1=1, a2, norminv(rand(), mean, sd))

Then clear A1 to calculate new values, and set it to 1 to hold them.