Create a random sample in Excel

Hi reader,

Let's figure out how to create a random sample with the following example.

I have a list of the 50 states of United States (e.g. cell A2:A51), from which I want to get 3 samples. To do that, you should build an auxiliary column (e.g. B2:B51) in the original list which you want to get the sample, with the following formula:

• "=RAND()"

Then, you should insert the formula bellow in the "Sample Number" column:

• "=RANK(Aux Cell;Aux List)" where:
• Aux Cell: 1st cell in the "Aux" List (e.g. B2) 
• Aux List: Auxiliary column created before (e.g. $B$2:$B$51)

Now, just match the sample number with the list of states names with this formula:

• "INDEX(Data List;Sample Number) where:
• Data List: List you want to extract the sample (e.g. $A$2:$A$51)
• Sample Number: Calculation made in the previous step (e.g. D2)

Hope it makes your spreadsheets easier.