Question

The RAND() function in Excel returns a pseudo-random number between 0 and 1. If you enter this function into 1000 cells (i.e. enter the formula in one cell and copy it to 999 other cells), approximately how many of these cells will contain values less than or equal to 0.2?

a. A number relatively close to 1.
b. A number relatively close to 10.
c. A number relatively close to 100.
d. A number relatively close to 500.
e. A number relatively close to 1000.

Answer 1

c. A number relatively close to 100.

Explanation:

Given

`Range: 0 \to 1`

`N =1000` --- i.e. the cells

Required

Number of cells that contains less than or equal 0.2

Less than or equal 0.2 means that the numbers are approximately 20% of the whole distribution

So, to calculate the number (n) of these cells, we do the following computation

`n = 20\% * N`

`n = 20\% * 1000`

`n = 200`

200 is closer to 100 than 500. Hence, (c) is correct