The IF function has numerous real-world applications that simplify decision-making in a program. The IF function, in the form of a statement, provides branching logic for system functionality by testing a condition and executing code based on whether the condition is true or false. In accounting or finance, the IF function helps illustrate value changes over a period of time. You can use the IF function in a conditional formula to create mathematical comparisons with column references. You can use the calculated column in a SharePoint list to do this.
The syntax for performing mathematical calculations using the IF function is “=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false).” The IF function performs a logical test on two values using comparison operators, such as less than (“<”), greater than (“>”) or equal to (“=”). It returns a value if the comparison is true, or it returns a different value if the comparison is false. While the logical test is a true or false outcome, you can use the arguments to alter the results of the decision.
The BINOMDIST function calculates the binomial probability distribution when you have a fixed number of repeated trials that are independent of each other with only two possible outcomes: success or failure. An example of a binomial experiment is repeating a coin toss several times and counting how many times the coin lands on heads. The probability of success for each repeated trial is the same, since only two possible outcomes exist. If the cumulative property of the BINOMDIST syntax is set to true, the function will return the cumulative distribution function based on the number of successes. You can complement the BINOMDIST function with the IF function to test the cumulative probability of success based on a specified number of trials.
For more flexibility in making decisions with the IF function, you can develop nested IFs by adding additional IF functions inside IF functions. Nested IFs add complexity to the IF function and logically increase the number of conditions and outcomes in a calculation. In Excel, you can nest up to seven IF functions. To nest IF functions, use the following syntax to build the formula: “IF( condition1, value_if_true1, IF( condition2, value_if_true2, value_if_false2 ))."