What does this mean?

[LIL2606]

Hi all,

I have this formula which I need a little help with:

"=SUMIFS(B5:B12,B5:B12,"<"&L8,A5:A12,"Blueberry")"

In this formula and context, what does "<"&L8 this mean? I know it's a criteria, and I know it applies to B5:B12.. but what does it do?

Thanks!!

[benishiryo]

hi LIL2606. you might need to change your title to something more descriptive. I'm bad at naming, so maybe "what does "<"&L8 in SUMIFS mean?".

and to answer your question, it's finding if B5:B12 has values lesser than cell L8. it is concatenating (combining) the lesser than sign (<) and the cell L8. it cannot be presented as "<L8" because that would mean to excel to find if B5:B12 is lesser than a text called L8. and that makes no sense to excel.

[Kaper]

I'd only add that in L8 you almost for sure have a number. so if there is say number 12 , then "<" & L8 is interpreted as "<12" while (as benishiryo said) "<L8" means just "<L8" - excel cannot interpret it as human could suppose.

I'm also joining benishiryos in asking for title change. Have you tried to search answer with https://www.excelforum.com/search.php or google/bing/duckduckgo.com etc.? What terms you used (or would you use) in search? - it is usually best suggestion for proper title post. (I'm 200% sure you'd never write "what does it mean" in search page, would you?)

[LIL2606]

Thank you guys! Thanks for the answers!

Sorry I'm new to the forum you are right, the title wasn't the best!