IF function

[sprinkle]

I am a student enrolled in a technical school. I am currently studying Microsoft Excel 2000. My instructor gave an assignment. Upon completion of this assignment, I was told that one of the answers I had given was wrong. The instructor wasn't even sure how to correctly do this problem, but guessed on the answer anyway. I disagree with her answer, could you please help me. The problem is a word problem having to do with writing an IF function. Here is the problem:
Write an IF function for cell H5 that assigns the text "Eligible" if the value in cell H12 is three times greater than the value in cell H13; otherwise the IF function assigns the text "Not Eligible".
Please try to help me with with this problem. I really want to understand all of Excel 2000.
Thank You

Sally Folds

[Aladin Akyurek]

On 2002-04-16 16:59, sprinkle wrote:
I am a student enrolled in a technical school. I am currently studying Microsoft Excel 2000. My instructor gave an assignment. Upon completion of this assignment, I was told that one of the answers I had given was wrong. The instructor wasn't even sure how to correctly do this problem, but guessed on the answer anyway. I disagree with her answer, could you please help me. The problem is a word problem having to do with writing an IF function. Here is the problem:
Write an IF function for cell H5 that assigns the text "Eligible" if the value in cell H12 is three times greater than the value in cell H13; otherwise the IF function assigns the text "Not Eligible".
Please try to help me with with this problem. I really want to understand all of Excel 2000.
Thank You

Sally Folds

I'd accept

=IF(H12>=3*H13,"Eligible","Not Eligible")

as an answer.

[BabyTiger]

The following may be what you are after:
=IF(H12>=H13*3,"Eligible","Not Eligible")

HTH

PS. Aladin is too quick for me.

[ This Message was edited by: BabyTiger on 2002-04-16 17:10 ]

[anno]

if it needs to be exactly and only exactly 3 times greater:
=IF(H12=H13*3,"Eligible","Not Eligible")

[Jay Petrulis]

On 2002-04-16 16:59, sprinkle wrote:
I am a student enrolled in a technical school. I am currently studying Microsoft Excel 2000. My instructor gave an assignment. Upon completion of this assignment, I was told that one of the answers I had given was wrong. The instructor wasn't even sure how to correctly do this problem, but guessed on the answer anyway. I disagree with her answer, could you please help me. The problem is a word problem having to do with writing an IF function. Here is the problem:
Write an IF function for cell H5 that assigns the text "Eligible" if the value in cell H12 is three times greater than the value in cell H13; otherwise the IF function assigns the text "Not Eligible".
Please try to help me with with this problem. I really want to understand all of Excel 2000.
Thank You

Sally Folds

Hi Sally,

Logically, if H12 is equal to 3*H13 then "Eligible." If that is not the case, then H12 is less than or greater than H13 * 3, and thus "Not Eligible."

In Cell H5
=IF(H12=H13*3,"Eligible","Not Eligible")

based on the standard IF syntax
IF(test, result if test is TRUE, result if FALSE)

However, I can easily see where the confusion comes in. Somewhat tricky wording at first glance, for sure.

Is H5 "Eligible" if H12 > 3*H12, meaning only if strictly greater than?
=IF(H12>H13*3,"Eligible","Not Eligible")

Or, "Eligible" if greater than or equal to >=?
=IF(H12>=H13*3,"Eligible","Not Eligible")

Based on the wording of your question, H5 is "Eligible" only when H12 is exactly 3 times H13.

I am sure your instructor argued one of these three options, but the first choice is the one that is correct.

Bye,
Jay