asked on

Random distribution formula

is there a formula that will divide a number randomly between a given number.

So lets say I have 10 clients and 35 widgets.

I want to distribute the widgets across the 10 clients randomly.

so

Client 1      gets 4
Client 2      gets 0
Client 3      gets 3
Client 4      gets 2
Client 5      gets 1
Client 6      gets 1
Client 7      gets 3
Client 8      gets 6
Client 9      gets 8
Client 10      gets 7

Thanks in advance

Ryan Chong

try this..
28695867.xlsm

Jagwarman

ASKER

thanks Ryan only this is I was looking for formula rather than vba. The above was an example and so potentially the number of Clients will be a moving target. i.e. I put 10 in example but in live there could be 20 or 70 or 35 or 100 etc.

Regards

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Ryan Chong

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Rgonzo1971

HI,

Or you could use a UDF returning an array see example

Function RandomWidgets(nrWidgets) As Variant
Dim Res() As Integer
    With Application.Caller
        CallerRows = .Rows.Count
    End With
    ReDim Res(0 To CallerRows - 1)
    Randomize
    For i = 1 To nrWidgets
        rIdx = Rnd * Now() Mod CallerRows
        Res(rIdx) = Res(rIdx) + 1
    Next
    RandomWidgets = Application.Transpose(Res)

End Function

Open in new window

Regards
28695867V1.xlsm

Jagwarman

ASKER

I like that and it's flexible

Rob Henson

Fomula driven, for first client, in G4:

=RANDBETWEEN(0,B1) where B1 has number of widgets

For remaining clients G5 down, against list created manually in column A:

=IF(A6="",$B$1-SUM(G$4:G4),RANDBETWEEN(0,$B$1-SUM(G$4:G4)))

Checks if last client and takes balancing figure other wise takes Random value between remainder and zero.

Thanks
Rob H