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Data with fixed mean and standard deviation

  1. #1
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    Excel 2007
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    Data with fixed mean and standard deviation

    Hi

    I'm a beginner using Excel to do more advanced stuff than inserting chart and using simple formulas.

    Now i need simulate data in 10 cells with a fixed standard deviation and a fixed mean

    Example: Simulating the laptime for a runner where the mean should be 50 and the standard deviation 5,

    I tried typing
    =50+5*RAND()*(-1^(RANDBETWEEN(1;2)))
    That gives me a mean close to 50 which is good but th standard deviation is no where near 5.
    Anyone who knows how to solve this problem?

    Thanks
    Arvid
    Last edited by Klorgrodan; 02-10-2009 at 10:25 AM.

  2. #2
    Forum Expert
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    08-27-2008
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    Re: Data with fixed mean and standard deviation

    41+RAND()*18 will deliver roughly what you want, but to pin the stdev and/or mean more precisely you would have to define later numbers based on earlier (which were random) - this is very unrealistic from a spreadsheet/programming point of view. If you're looking for ball-park, though, try the above.

    CC

  3. #3
    Registered User
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    Re: Data with fixed mean and standard deviation

    Thanks that works good enough for my problem at the time

    /Arvid

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