When it comes to Google Sheets, the Match function is a powerful tool that can help you find the relative position of an item within a specified row or column. But did you know that you can take it a step further and combine it with other functions to enhance its functionality? In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of the Match function and provide you with some practical examples to help you become a Google Sheets pro.
Match Function in Google Sheets – Unraveling the Syntax and Arguments
Let’s start by understanding the syntax and arguments of the Match function in Google Sheets.
Syntax: MATCH(SEARCH_KEY, RANGE, SEARCH_TYPE)
Arguments:
- Search Key: This refers to the value you want to search for within a given range. It can be a text string, a numeric value, or even a date.
- Range: The range must be either a single row or a single column, such as A2:A10 or A2:G2.
- Search Type: This optional element determines the sorting order of the range. By default, the value is 1, indicating an ascending order. However, you can use 0 for an unsorted range or -1 for a range sorted in descending order.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to dive into some practical examples of using the Match function in Google Sheets.
How to Make the Most of the Google Sheets Match Function
In this section, we’ll walk you through a few examples of using the Match function with vertical ranges or single columns.
Examples – Unsorted Range
Let’s start with an unsorted range and explore how the Match function works with different types of search keys.
Example 1: Match Function with Text String as Search Key
In this example, we’ll use a text string as the search key to find its relative position within the range.
=match(J2,C2:C12,0)The output of this formula is 2, indicating that the item “Coverall” is in the second position within the range C2:C12.
Example 2: Match Function with Numeric Value as Search Key
Similar to the previous example, we can use a numeric value as the search key.
=match(J6,F2:F12,0)
=match(1460,F2:F12,0)Example 3: Match Function with Date as Search Key
Using a date as the search key is also possible with the Match function.
=match(J10,B2:B12,0)
=match(DATE(2017,10,22),B2:B12,0)MATCH in a Sorted Range
Now, let’s explore how the Match function behaves with a sorted range.
In the following example, the search key is 4, which is not present in the range J15:J20.
=match(4,J15:J20,0)By changing the search type to 1, we can find the nearest match instead.
=match(4,J15:J20,1)The output of this formula would be 3, the relative position of the number 3 in the range.
In summary, when working with sorted or unsorted ranges, it’s important to use the appropriate search type. Use 0 for an exact match and 1 for an exact or nearest match in a sorted range. Avoid using search type 1 in an unsorted range, as it may produce inaccurate results.
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Note: This article was originally published on Crawlan.com.
