The IF function is one of the most useful Excel functions and the most used. What it does, basically, is test to see if a certain condition is true or false. Return a real value and if it becomes a false alternative. Many people seem to really cause much headache with the IF function, but overall, it is not really a difficult tool to use.

The IF function allows the decision-making in a spreadsheet. Specific criteria that are installed in one of two actions, according to whether or not the criteria are met.

An example

You have two values. In a cell that has a value of 65 years and in another cell that has a value of 23. If the function that allows us to do is do a test and you can say that we want to see if the value of 65 is above 23. When the numbers are connected in a statement, the result is that 65 is greater than 23 and becomes a real return of the region.

The syntax of the IF function is as follows – IF (logical test, the results of true and false results)

But we can now create the example we did earlier to get started, just open a worksheet in Microsoft Excel. Address in cell A1, type the text, IF the test conditions. In cell A2, type the text – the numerical value 1, A3, type the text – Numeric value 2, and in cell A5, enter the text what is the biggest?

Now we need to test numbers in our Excel spreadsheet, enter in cell B2 of the address value 65 and the direction in cell B3, enter the value 23. In cell B5, we must create our formula. Using the above example, we want to know if the value in B2 is higher than the value of B3. If the condition is true that we restore the text – the numerical value 1 and the condition is false, if we want to send the text – Numeric Value 2.

The structure of the IF function will look like this = IF (B2> B3, "value 1", "value 2")

What can be seen in the previous function is the text values are quoted. Always work with the text in the text should always Formulas price around him. If you type the above formula in cell B5 management should see the text – numerical value 1. If you change the value from B2 to 12 now, the outcome of B5 should be – the numerical value 2.

The IF function is a very varied and you can test an unlimited number of conditions necessary for the future, it can even be nested IF functions within IF functions, but the important thing is that for each function in the syntax should look IF the same as above.