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One of the most useful functions in Excel is the IF function. What it does is test a value in a specific cell to see if that value meets a certain condition. If the value does meet the condition, one result will happen, if false, a different action will occur. Some people shy away from using this versatile function because of its apparent complexity. By doing this, they are missing out on one of the most useful functions available in Excel.

=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false)

=IF(D1 < 26, 100, 200) Breaking the example down into its three parts we have: logical test: D1 < 26, ("<" means less than)

value if true: 100

value if false: 200

Breaking it down further, it basically says:

If Cell D1 is Less Than 26, Enter 100 in this cell, otherwise enter 200.

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15y ago
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3y ago
Thank you. perfect and perfectly understandable answer. 
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8y ago

The If function allows the Spreadsheet to make decisions, based on conditions.

The If function has the following format: =IF(<Condition> , <True value> , <False value>)

The Condition is the problem to be evaluated. eg. Amount of wages someone earned to determine their tax bracket.

The True value is the action to be taken if the given condition is fulfilled. This may be to add a value to something or multiply a value by something etc.

The False value is the action to be taken if the condition is not fulfilled.

In any given case, either the False or True actions can be done, as a condition is either True or False, but never both.

As an overall example, if in the cell B3 you had a alue which must be multiplied by 10 if it is over 100 or else multiplied by 5 the function would be:

=IF(B3>100, B3*10,B3*5)

Breaking this down: B3>100 = Condition. B3*10 = True value. B3*5 = False value.

IF functions may be nested, meaning that another IF function could form part of the True or False values. Taking the last example, if we then add the condition that B3 will be multiplied by 5 if greater than 50 and by 3 if less than or equal to 50, we will then as part of the False value have to evaluate if B3 is over 50 or not, having already discovered that it is less than 100. The function will now include a new IF function as its False value which must include the same 3 component parts as any IF function:

=IF(B3>100, B3*10, IF(B3>50, B3*5, B3*3) )

Our Condition and True values are the same as before. But now our False value is itself an IF function having a Condition, True and False values. Note that we also have 2 brackets at the end to close the 2 IF functions. The final bracket corresponds to the opening of the first IF. IF functions may be nested quite deeply at times and require careful thought at all times. The following function is similar to the above formula and reads and sounds correct:

=IF(B3>50,B3*5, IF(B3>100, B3*10,B3*3))

However this formula will not give the correct answer for figures over 100, but will for the other 2 categories. Because any figure over 100 will always be over 50 and the test for figures over 50 is done first, these figures will always be multiplied by 10. Only figures under 50 will be checked to be over 100 in the second part of the formula. As figures This will never be True so no figures will ever be multiplied by 10. Remember only the True or False action will be taken, never both so it will not check the second condition if the figure is over 100 as it will be over 50. Figures between 50 and 100 in this case is a middle condition. You should never start to test on a middle condition. Always start at one extreme or the other and work your way toward the other extreme. In this case start with figures over 100, as in the first example, or figures under 50 first:

=IF(B3<=50, B3*3, IF(B3<=100, B3*5, B3*10))

Another approach can be taken to this where you can safely start on a middle condition, by doing 2 checks before applying an action and having the second IF as part of the True value:

=IF(B3>50, IF(B3>100, B3*10,B3*5),B3*3)

When using IF functions you will always have one less IF than the amount of conditions. In the examples given we had 3 possible categories, but each formula only required 2 IF functions. Every IF eliminates one possibility. When the second to last possibility has been eliminated, as there is only 1 remaining possibility left, it does not need a further IF function to test if it is True. The final possibility never needs to be tested for. In our example we had 3 possibilities. If our value is not over 100 and not over 50 then it must be less than 50, so we do not need to check for that possibility. If it is not less than or equal to 50 and not less than or equal to 100, then it must be over 100 so again we do not need to check for that possibility.

If functions can also work by checking things like dates or text. If you were doing an exam function you could have a function to display Pass or Fail, based on an exam score. If the score was in cell A1 and you want to display Pass or Fail in B1, then you'd put the formula in B1. You must enclose the text in quotation marks, or else it will think it is a cell reference and give an error. The formula in B1, based on a pass mark of 40, would be:

=IF(A1>=40,"Pass","Fail")

You can also check what is in a cell to see if it matches a piece of text. So in C1 you could have a formula like this, to display a message based on the result from the IF formula in B1:

=IF(B1="Pass","Congratulations","Hard luck")

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14y ago

The IF function, allows you to choose between two alternatives. The syntax is IF(situation, first option, second option). The formula looks like =IF(A1=2,"yes","no").

If the situation is true, then the IF function will execute the first option. If the situation is false, the IF function will execute the second option. I the formula example, if the contents of cell A1 equals "2," then the cell holding the formula would display "yes."

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12y ago

An IF function allows you to make a decision in Excel. All programming languages have the ability to use IF statements. The standard form in languages and in Excel and other applications that use them, is to have the condition first, and then have what it is done if the condition is true and then what happens if the condition is false. See the related question below.

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8y ago

The If function has the following format: =IF(<Condition> , <True value> , <False value>)

The Condition is the problem to be evaluated. eg. Amount of wages someone earned to determine their tax bracket.

The True value is the action to be taken if the given condition is fulfilled. This may be to add a value to something or multiply a value by something etc.

The False value is the action to be taken if the condition is not fulfilled.

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12y ago

It is simply known as the IF function. It is used as follows:

=IF(Condition, Value if True, Value if False)

For example, checking test results in cell A1 where the pass mark is 40%, you would put the following formula in a cell other than A1:

=IF(A1>=40%,"Pass","Fail")

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9y ago

You can just start typing it or find it through the Logical functions category. You can use the Insert Function button on the Formula Bar to do that. You can also do it through menus or tabs, depending on the version of Excel you have.

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12y ago

To enable the spreadsheet to make choices based on values in the spreadsheet. See the related question below for a more detailed answer.

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