Select 6 unique and random numbers from 1 to 49 (Lottery) in excel
Introduction
This article describes how to randomly select 6 unique numbers from 1 to 49.
In a 6-from-49 lotto, a player chooses six numbers from 1 to 49 (no duplicates are allowed). If all six numbers on the player's ticket match those produced in the official drawing, then the player is a jackpot winner. This is true regardless of the order in which the numbers are drawn.
Source: Wikipedia
You learn how to:
- Create an array of 49 numbers
- Create random numbers
- Construct a criterion for unique numbers
- Create 6 unique numbers
Create an array of 49 numbers
In cell A2 typ:
Select cell range A2:A51. Click formula bar. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER
Create random numbers
Of course, you can use this formula to create random numbers between 1 to 49:
To be able to avoid duplicates we can use Large function and a criterion. Simplified formula: =Large(array_numbers, Randbetween(1;49))
In cell B2:
Select cell range B2:B51. Click formula bar. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER.
Construct a criterion for unique numbers
How do we remove numbers already selected, avoiding duplicates?
In our first cell C2, the formula can select any number from the number array. But in our second cell, we must remove the number in cell C2 from the number array to avoid duplicates.
ROW($1:$49) multplied by a criterion.
Adding a criterion to the simplified formula: =Large((array_numbers)*Criterion1, Randbetween(1;49))
The criterion in cell C2:
COUNTIF($C$1:C1;ROW($1:$49)) creates this array:
{0, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0}.
Cell C1 is empty and is not equal to any number in the array ROW($1:$49).
What happens in cell C3:
COUNTIF($C$1:C2;ROW($1:$49)) creates this array:
{0, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0}.
Cell C2 contains the number 22 and is equal to array value 22 in ROW($1:$49).
Randbetween function returns a random number between the numbers you specify. In this example the numbers are 1 and 49.
The question is how do we calculate the number we need to specify?
(COUNTIF($C$1:C1, ROW($1:$49))=0 returns how many numbers left there are to select randomly.
{TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE, TRUE}
Excel can´t sum that array so using double negations converts the array.
SUM(--(COUNTIF($B$1:B1, ROW($1:$49))=0))
SUM({ 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1}) equals 49.
In cell C2:
Copy cell C2. Paste it down to cell C51.
Create 6 unique numbers
Formula in D1:
=LARGE((COUNTIF($D$1:D1, ROW($1:$49))=0)*ROW($1:$49), RANDBETWEEN(1, SUM(--(COUNTIF($D$1:D1, ROW($1:$49))=0))));"") + CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER
Copy cell D1 and paste down to cell D7.
Press F9 to refresh list.
Download excel sample file for this tutorial.
Lottery numbers.xls
(Excel 97-2003 Workbook *.xls)
Functions in this article:
COUNTIF(range,criteria)
Counts the number of cells within a range that meet the given condition
IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE
LARGE(array,k) returns the k-th largest row number in this data set
RANDBETWEEN(bottom, top)
Returns a random number between the numbers you specify
ROW(reference) Returns the rownumber of a reference
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How to create a list of random unique numbers in excel
Sort a list in random order in excel
Random row from a boolean matrix in excel
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Another, somewhat shorter way:
I'm generalizing and consider a sampling of k elements without replacement from a population with size n.
n=49 and k=6 is a special case.
1)Fill the columnA from A1 to An with the formula =RAND().
2)Enter the formula =RANK(A1,$A$1:$A$n,1)say into the cell B1.
3)Copy it down to the cell Bk (including).
Press F9 to refresh.
Eero,
That is fantastic and yet so simple!
What are the chances Rand() returns a duplicate?
I filled a column A:A (over a million rows) with rand() values. I then calculated the number of duplicates in column(A:A) using this udf: Excel udf: Count unique distinct values in a large dataset
The calculation took about 10-15 seconds. I then pressed F9 to refresh values. I repeated the process 10 times but not once were there duplicates!
As long as you leave the numbers as they are when they are generated (that is, you do not multiply them by a wholen number and then apply the INT function in order to create a range of random whole numbers between some limits), then you can safely assume the numbers won't repeat, at least not for the way you are using them. Here is a link that mentions the repeatability of the generated random numbers...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/828795
it all matters on luck. and i notice theres always too numbers close to each other like example (1 3 14 15 27 30) look at how 14 and 15 are in there but sometimes there not always like that. good luck fellow friends iv only won 2 dollars in my like with lotto lolz XD.
So for a project I needed to do random generated numbers, did this one in excel and I get repeats every 1 out of 8. Any ideas of keep it a set between 1-60 having 5 numbers generate randomly as possible and not have a repeat or at least such a high ratio.
Thank you! thank you! thank you!
I am a high school Math teacher and I use this routinte daily to create random calls or to distribute students randomly in groups. You've helped in the world of education.
Thanks !!!
Rene Pulupa
Poolesville HS
Poolesville, Maryland
Rene Pulupa (HS Teacher),
Thank you for commenting!