question about IF function

**cnow** · 01-16-2008, 04:02 PM

I'm trying to write a function that would do the following:

If two cells in a row are the same as two cells in any row ABOVE that row, then I'd like the cell with the formula to read "False". For example, if the sheet looks like this for columns A through D, and rows 1 through 5, how should I format the cells in column D?

A B C D

1 X Y E E
2 X Z E E
3 Z X E E
4 Z Y E E
5 X Z E FALSE

Any suggestions? Thanks so much -

**NBVC** · 01-16-2008, 04:21 PM

Try this formula in D2:

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formula must be confirmed with CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER not just ENTER...you will see { } brackets appear if entered correctly

Then copy down.

**cnow** · 01-16-2008, 04:24 PM

Thank so much for your response!

Will this work if the cells have text and not numbers?

**NBVC** · 01-16-2008, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by cnow

Thank so much for your response!

Will this work if the cells have text and not numbers?

Yes it will..

the ISNUMBER() function only checks whether the Match() function comes up with a positive response (which would be a 1 if all three arguments in the lookup_array part of the Match() function are true). When all are true, the three TRUEs multiplied result in a 1.., if not you get 0's. Then the Match() function searches these results to find a 1... If a 1 is found then the position of that 1 is returned and that position itself is a number, that the Isnumber() function will recognize and yield a positive result.