How+to+Use+the+IF+Function

Excel's **IF** function is very helpful if you are trying to separate information according to certain requirements. It deals with phrases/numbers that are being compared to each other, with symbols such as <, >, <=, >= (less than, greater than, less than or equal to, greater than or equal to).

The **IF** function returns one value if a condition you specify evaluates to TRUE, and another value if that condition evaluates to FALSE.

The Syntax for an **IF** function is: **If( condition, value_if_true, value_if_false )**

Let's walk through, step-by-step, what it looks like to use an **IF** function.

When you click on the **IF** function, this box (shown below) will come up on your screen.

__Example__:

Below is a spreadsheet of the data we want to use the **IF** function in. The Commission in Column F is where we are specifically going to insert this formula.

Let's say that we want to know, "Is the total sale less than $10,000?" To enter this in the Logical_test text box, we write it as, //E2<10000//

When the text is typed, you will notice the word FALSE appeared, just to the right of it

Next, we want to fill out the Value_if_true text box with, //E2*.06//. This tells us that if the total sale is less than $10,000 we want a 6% commission computed.

Finally, we want to fill out the Value_if_false text box with, //E2*.10//. This tells us that is the total sale is not less than $10,000, the condition is false, and we're going to compute a 10% commission.

Below is a completed Function Arguments box, once we have submitted all the data:



Click the OK button and F2 will display the digits of 2425. Now select the fill handle to complete the spreadsheet. A complete spreadsheet is shown below with all the commission information we were looking for.



With a completed worksheet you are all set! You have just learned how easy, and useful using the **IF** function formula is!

By Karen Krouse Info273 10/31/09