rcc -

Instead of using a distribution defined by a mathematical function, you
could use a piecewise-linear approximation of the cumulative distribution.
Since you can use as many points as you want to describe the cumulative
distribution, you can get a very close fit.

RiskSim, my Monte Carlo simulation add-in for Excel, has a RandCumulative
function. Other simulation add-ins have similar features.

- Mike Middleton
http://www.DecisionToolworks.com
Decision Analysis Add-ins for Excel


"rcc" wrote in message
...
My apologies if this is more an "academic" question than an Excel
question...

I'm looking to create a probability distribution in Excel. My probability
distribution is similar to a normal distribution, but it's scewed. My
data
ranges (for example) from 200 to 800 and has a mean of 400. If my mean
were
500, then this would look like a normal curve with 2*stdev of approx 150.
But since the mean is 400, the curve is scewed to the left a bit.

Does anyone have an idea as to what kind of probability distribution I
would
use for this? My end result is using the distribution for a Monte Carlo
simulation (which I have all set up in a worksheet).

Thank you.