Documentation/Calc Functions/RAND

This page contains changes which are not marked for translation.

Other languages:

Function name:

RAND

Mathematical

Generates a uniformly distributed random number in the range 0 (inclusive) to 1 (exclusive).

RAND()

Returns a real number in the range [0, 1).

None.

RAND is a volatile function that produces a new random number each time Calc recalculates. This means that Calc will update the value returned by RAND when any cell is updated by selecting Data ▸ Calculate ▸ Recalculate or pressing F9, or on any input event.
Use the RAND.NV function for a non-volatile equivalent.
To generate random numbers that never recalculate, either:
- Copy cells containing =RAND(), and use Edit ▸ Paste Special (with All and Formulas deselected and Numbers selected).
- Use Sheet ▸ Fill Cells ▸ Fill Random Number to fill a selected cell range with random numbers, generated in accordance with the flexible settings available through the Random Number Generator dialog.
To generate numbers in a range other than [0, 1), either:
- Scale the value returned by RAND to a new range using a formula of the form =(RAND()*(b-a))+a to generate a number in the range [a, b). For example, the formula =(RAND()*20)-10 would generate random numbers in the range [-10, 10).
- Use the RANDBETWEEN function or its non-volatile equivalent RANDBETWEEN.NV.