Course / Logic & Decisions

The IF function

Show one result when a test is TRUE and another when it is FALSE. Beginner · 4 min · IF, Text results, Empty text ""

IF turns a TRUE/FALSE test into a decision:

=IF(test, value_if_true, value_if_false)

• test: a comparison such as B2>=C2
• value_if_true: the result when the test is TRUE
• value_if_false: the result when it is FALSE

Results can be text in double quotes, numbers, or whole calculations. You'll use all three to settle this month's sales bonuses.

Steps

1. Did each rep hit their target? In D2:D8, show Hit when sales are greater than or equal to the target, and Missed otherwise.

2. Reps who hit their target earn a bonus: their sales multiplied by the rate in B10. Everyone else gets 0. Fill in E2:E8, locking the rate as $B$10 so it survives copying.

3. Managers only want a note where action is needed. In F2:F8, show Book a chat when the status in column D is Missed. Otherwise show nothing, using empty quotes "".

4. Ben just closed a late sale. Change his sales in B3 to 10200 and watch D3, E3 and F3 update together.

Remember

• =IF(test, value_if_true, value_if_false) picks one of two results.
• Results can be text (in quotes), numbers or calculations.
• "" shows an empty-looking cell instead of FALSE.

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