5 Ways To Generate Random Numbers On Your Mac

Learn how to get random numbers on your Mac using the Calculator app, the Numbers app, Siri, the Terminal and a custom Shortcut.

Comments: 7 Responses to “5 Ways To Generate Random Numbers On Your Mac”

    Ken
    2 years ago

    I do like the shortcut idea. Is there way to have to die roll. One being 1-6 and the other the same. Thanks. Ken

    2 years ago

    Ken: In Shortcuts, yes. Have the random number generated twice, then use a "Text" action to concatenate them both. Or a "Calculate" action to add them both and give the result.

    Karl
    2 years ago

    Are you able to exclude numbers within the given range? Example: a sign up sheet for a drawing, where people choose their numbers and once all have signed up there are unselected numbers within the range of possible choices.

    2 years ago

    Karl: In that case you would just have all of the numbers in a column, and chose a random row. So if 20 people chose numbers, then they would be rows 1-20. Choose a random number between 1-20 and there is your winner.

    Marc Chamberland
    1 year ago

    Hi Gary. As always your videos are always very interesting and easy to understand.
    Let's suppose i use the random formula in Numbers to select a number between 1 and 50, and i need 6 numbers in that range, how can i be sure that the same random number doesn't come twice ? ex : 23-(16)-14-50-49-(16) And is there a way to get them sorted ??

    1 year ago

    Marc: Lots of ways to do it. The simplest is to just generate more numbers than you need and take the first 6 unique ones. Since you only need 6 numbers, this will be the easiest and quickest way to do it. Then delete the rest and sort.
    Or, you could put the numbers 1 through 50 in 50 rows of a table. Then in the next column put a RAND() function (random number between 0 and 1). Then sort by that second column. This is a "shuffle" like you are shuffling a deck of cards, or pulling bingo balls out of a box. Then delete that second column, delete the other 44 rows, and sort the remaining 6.

    Marc Chamberland
    1 year ago

    Thanks a lot. I will do so.

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