formula for pyramid distribution? For Google Sheets

smking204

New Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2021
Messages
41
Office Version
  1. 365
Platform
  1. Windows
I've got a doozy for y'all. I want to create a formula that will return a random integer according to a pyramid distribution.

For example, A1 might serve as my input, which is itself a randomized integer, let's call it 24 for now. In B1, then, I want my pyramid formula, which will return a new integer that is + or - 50% of the input, but weighted toward the middle (12 and 36 would each have one chance of appearing, 13 and 35 would each have two chances, 14 and 34 would each have 3, and so on).

The formula needs to be 1) dependent on the variable input, and 2) able to be retooled for a different percentage

WAY too much math for me, but I hope to get some responses to dissect and get a little better at this sort of thing. Thanks a ton!
 
I tweaked the normal distribution formula so that it limits the results to +/- 50%. It works, but the endpoints will be a bit higher than expected (see the graph below). I experimented with changing the size of the standard deviation. I originally used a divisor of 2 which made the endpoints significantly higher. I used a divisor of 3, which made the endpoints about what you'd want, but it made the rest of the values drop off much quicker too. I think a divisor of 2.5 is about the best compromise.

Book1 (version 1).xlsb
ABCDE
10MidpointRangeRandom #
202450%25
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
1225.........................
1311...........
1429.............................
1539.......................................
1650..................................................
1756........................................................
1889.........................................................................................
19111...............................................................................................................
20115...................................................................................................................
21140............................................................................................................................................
22154..........................................................................................................................................................
23200........................................................................................................................................................................................................
24168........................................................................................................................................................................
25153.........................................................................................................................................................
26132....................................................................................................................................
27116....................................................................................................................
28109.............................................................................................................
2978..............................................................................
3073.........................................................................
3139.......................................
3240........................................
3325.........................
3424........................
359.........
3615...............
370 
End
Cell Formulas
RangeFormula
E2E2=MEDIAN(INT(NORM.INV(RAND(),B2,B2*C2/2.5)),INT(B2-B2*C2),ROUNDUP(B2+B2*C2,0))
B12:B37B12=REPT(".",A12)




As far as I know, all these functions exist in Google Sheets, although with slightly different names (NORM.INV --> NORMINV). I hope it works for you, but if not, you'll have to find someone else to step in. Good luck!
You're a good man, Eric! Thanks so much, I'll be parsing through this and your earlier responses, they've been super helpful.
 
Upvote 0

Excel Facts

Which Excel functions can ignore hidden rows?
The SUBTOTAL and AGGREGATE functions ignore hidden rows. AGGREGATE can also exclude error cells and more.

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