countif syntax

[stephme55]

Hello. Why does the second formula have to be in quotes?

Countif(sales, 100)
Countif(sales, ">=100")

[Pete_UK]

Well, you could also write it like this:

Countif(sales, ">="&100)

and the first one could be:

Countif(sales, "="&100)

or:

Countif(sales, "=100")

COUNTIF (and SUMIF(S) etc.) use the string comparison evaluator, so the second term needs to equate to a string. However, if you are using equals as the comparator, then "=" is optional, as the function is clever enough to deduce what you mean.

Hope this helps.

Pete

[FDibbins]

the < > and = operators are text, and excel cannot use text in any formula unless you wrap it in "". As Pete said, if you onlu need to use =, then you can actually just leave it out