RockWorks | Utilities | Statistics | Random | Normal
This program is used to generate random numbers within a normal distribution. This utility can generate both positive and negative numbers with or without decimal values.
Menu Options
Step-by-Step Summary
Menu Options
- Output Column: In the left pane of the window, the Random Data item should default to the column in which the cursor is currently locationd. To change the column into which the data will be recorded, simply click on the down-arrow and select the column name. Be warned that any existing data in the column will be overwritten within the specified rows!
- Enter the data setup:
- Rows: Start, End: Click on these items in the middle pane of the window, and type in the range of row numbers in the datasheet where the randomly generated numbers are to be stored. For example, setting Start to 25 and End to 50 would cause the program to generate 26 random numbers and list them in the selected column, in starting in row 25.
- Mean: Type into this prompt box the mean value desired for this set of randomly-generated numbers. A decimal value may be used for this user-input number as necessary.
- Standard Deviation: Type into this prompt box the number of standard deviations above and below the mean to be represented in the set of randomly-generated numbers.
- Decimals: Type into this prompt box the number of decimal places to be displayed in the set of randomly-generated numbers. The maximum number of decimal places that will be displayed and stored is 17, even if more decimal places are requested.
Step-by-Step Summary
- Access the RockWorks Utilities program tab.
- Enter/open/import a data file or create a new datasheet for the random numbers. Be sure that the datasheet contains at least one blank column for recording of the random numbers.
- Select the Statistics | Random | Normal menu option.
- Enter the requested settings, described above.
- Click Process to continue.
The program will randomly generate numbers for a normal distribution and store them in the selected column in the datasheet.
Back to Statistics Menu Summary
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