How to us the IF Statement in Microsoft Excel 2013
In this blog I show you how to the IF Statement in Microsoft Excel 2013
IF Function (IF Statement)
An If function asks Excel to consider if something is true or false. If it is true it will return one answer, if it is false it will return a different answer.
For example: Can my company afford to buy 10 new computers? There are 2 possible outcomes -if it is within the budget then the answer is “yes”, if it is outside of the budget then the answer is “no”.
The structure of an IF Function
The structure of an IF statement always contains the same five elements.
- Starts with =IF(
- The Logical Test followed by a comma
- What to do if the logical test is True followed by a comma
- What to do if the logical test is False
- Close brackets
To make this IF function easier to understand the logical test is in one colour, the true part is in another colour and the false part is in a third colour.
Operators you can use in a Logical Test
Typing in an IF Function
Figure – structure of an IF statement
- Click in the cell where you want the answer
- Type in the =IF(
- Type in your logical test
- Type a comma
- Type in what Excel must do if this is true
- Type a comma
- Type in what Excel must do if this is false
- Close the brackets
- Press Enter
If Excel is to display text for the true or false result then you must enclose the text in inverted commas.
You can also put a formula in the IF statement for the True or False result.
For example:
I want to know how much bonus each member of staff will receive:
=IF(B2>$H$1,C2*$h$2,0)
Figure – working out the bonus amount
Happy Learning!
This topic has been taken from my free eBook on Microsoft Excel Core: Advanced 2013 which can be downloaded here:
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