how do we select a small sample of data randomly froma given set of large
data in excel

Let's say the data is in A1:A100 and you want a sample of 4
In B1 enter =RANDBETWEEN(1,1000) and copy down the column
In C1:C4 enter 1,2,3,4
In D1 enter =INDEX($A$1:$A$100,LARGE($B$1:$B$100,C1), copy down to D4
This gives four from the data, press F9 to resample
best wishes
--
Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
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"random selection of data" <random selection of
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how do we select a small sample of data randomly froma given set of large
data in excel

Hi Bernard,

I tried the solution as given below but I am not getting any solution in
Column D as mentioned below, instead I am getting the error message as #Ref!

Please tell me where I am going wrong.

Cheers,
Mandeep Dhami

"Bernard Liengme" wrote:

Let's say the data is in A1:A100 and you want a sample of 4
In B1 enter =RANDBETWEEN(1,1000) and copy down the column
In C1:C4 enter 1,2,3,4
In D1 enter =INDEX($A$1:$A$100,LARGE($B$1:$B$100,C1), copy down to D4
This gives four from the data, press F9 to resample
best wishes
--
Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
remove caps from email

"random selection of data" <random selection of
wrote in message
...
how do we select a small sample of data randomly froma given set of large
data in excel

One option:

Insert a new column next to your data.
Enter the formula: =Rand()
Copy the formula down for all data
Sort your data by the new column

You can then look at the first 5 lines, or 10, or 100... whatever sample
size you need.

HTH,
Elkar


"random selection of data" wrote:

how do we select a small sample of data randomly froma given set of large
data in excel