difference between index match and just stating reference?

difference between these two below formulas?


=INDEX(a1:a5,MATCH(TRUE,a1:a5<500,0))


=INDEX(a1:a5,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(a1:a5<500,0),))


any difference between the bold part?

a1:a5<500

INDEX(a1:a5<500,0)



if there is no difference then why did https://www.extendoffice.com/documen...ater-than.html
tell us to use INDEX(a1:a5<500 instead of just a1:a5<500?

For the first formula,

=INDEX(a1:a5,MATCH(TRUE,a1:a5<500,0))

The match type is 0, therefore MATCH finds the first value that is exactly equal to lookup_value.
**This is an array formula, if you are using xl2010, it must be committed using ctrl+shift+enter

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For the second formula

=INDEX(a1:a5,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(a1:a5<500,0), Missing type ))

If the match type is 1 or missing, then MATCH finds the largest value that is less than or equal to lookup_value.

These formulae ALL return the same results:

=INDEX(A1:A5,MATCH(TRUE,A1:A5<500,0))

=INDEX(A1:A5,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(A1:A5<500,0),))

=INDEX(A1:A5,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(A1:A5<500,0),0))

=INDEX(A1:A5,MATCH(TRUE,INDEX(A1:A5<500,0),FALSE))

Why should you be surprised that there is more than one way to return results?

If you drag the formulae down, they return an array of values less than 500.

There may not be a difference in the value returned but, pre-365 days, there was a difference in the means by which they needed to be committed. The technique of inserting an additional, 'artificial' INDEX function simply for the sake of not having to commit the formula with CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER became quite fashionable a while back. Personally I always had (and have) doubts about its merits.

Regards