Yonks and yonks ago, I used to have a copy of the formula that would allow me to build standard bell curves. The inputs were duration, and amount to distibute and then it would spread it on a standard bell distribution.

Then on top of that, I had formulas that allowed me to front load and back load the distribution.

Does anyone know where I put them, as I lost them about 10 years ago, and really need them now!

Failing that can someone rebuild them for me, in excel ideally.

Thanks in advance y'all

It's Microsoft, they stole it from you!

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/213930

I could be wrong, but I think JimO wants to be able to plot curves specifying mean and standard deviation, using Excel functions. All MS have done is show a method to use Monte Carlo simulation (repeated random number generation) and then analyse the results to see if it fits a normal distribution.

These two links will give you want you want Jim I think?

http://www.exceluser.com/explore/normalcurve.htm

http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelArticles/mc/NormalDistribution-Excel.html

I sometimes need to plot out distillation curves and do some smoothing of data, I used to use some probability paper, since the multicomponent mixtures would be assumed to have a normal "bell" distribution. I used to measured off the distances on the chart with a ruler and use those numbers to interpolate/extrapolate on a probability basis, but could never figure out how to do it cleverly in Excel. Armed with the above links, I reckon I could now, so cheers Jim for providing me the incentive to look a bit harder!

And those links showed me how to copy/paste data series on a chart I used to do it all manually and the shading on the charts has given me other ideas too...

Sounds like the excitement of a teenager Dave!

Thanks Dave, that might be it, only on my phone at the mo, so can't test..

Yeah right, except age = teenager + 40 (almost)

You still look rather the same as you did when I first met you in 2001 or so. Maybe a bit more grey, but other than that it's all in your head.

Yes, it is nice that all my hair is still in my head

Lol.