Today you will

• learn how an IF formula makes a decision
• practise one IF on Aoife's phone-case costs
• add a Flag column to {{code:05_project_budget}} that shows Over budget

If you don't have {{code:05_project_budget}} yet, tell your teacher now.

Warm-up

Think of one cost in your Something Real project that would worry you if it went too high. Would your limit be €20, €50 or €100? You will use that number later.

An IF formula checks something and then shows one of two answers.

The condition is the test it checks, such as {{code:C2>40}}.

The threshold is the number that sets off the flag.

The value if true and the value if false are the two answers. Any words go inside double quotes.

Example: Aoife's phone cases

Aoife wants any cost over €40 flagged. Her formula is {{code:=IF(C2>40,"Over budget","")}}. If the cost is more than 40, the cell says Over budget. If not, it stays blank.

You will type Aoife's five costs on a practice sheet and flag the ones over €40. Watch your teacher first, then follow the steps in the box below.

If you don't have {{code:05_project_budget}}, make a new spreadsheet with that name in {{code:05_budget}} first.

This is the data you will type:

If something goes wrong

• If you see {{code:#NAME?}} or {{code:#VALUE!}}, check that IF is spelled right and Over budget is inside straight double quotes.
• If every flag is wrong, check that the letter points at your Cost column and the costs have no € sign.
• If your Cost column isn't C, change the letter to match, like {{code:=IF(E3>50,"Over budget","")}}.