Can assign a parameter to a variable?

[lethach]

I have a funtion like: =IF(LEFT(A3,1)="A",1000,IF(LEFT(A3,1)="B",2000,IF(LEFT(A3,1)="C",3000,4000)))
In this formula, LEFT(A3,1) appear three times and excel will run LEFT funtion three times.
Can use like this?
=IF(LEFT(A3,1) AS X="A",1000, IF(X)="B",2000,IF(X)="C",3000,4000)))

Thanks. I speak english very bad.

 

[VoG]

This is an alternative

=LOOKUP(LEFT(A3,1),{"A","B","C","D"},{1000,2000,3000,4000})

 

[p45cal]

..and another:
=IFERROR(CHOOSE(SEARCH(LEFT(A3,1),"ABC"),1000,2000,3000),4000)

or if using versions of excel prior to xl2007:
=IF(ISERR(SEARCH(LEFT(A3,1),"ABC")),4000,CHOOSE(SEARCH(LEFT(A3,1),"ABC"),1000,2000,3000))