Formula: =A1=B1=C1 --- What is it doing?

[G Lykos]

With the captioned formula in D1;

A1=1, B1=1, C1=nothing; D1=False.
A1=1, B1=2, C1=nothing; D1=True.

A1=1, B1=1, C1=1; D1=False.
A1=1, B1=2, C1=1; D1=False.

A1=nothing, B1=1, C1=1; D1=False.
A1=nothing, B1=1, C1=2; D1=False.

A1=nothing, B1=1, C1=nothing; D1=True.
A1=nothing, B1=nothing, C1=nothing; D1=False.

What is the algorithm being evaluated for this formula?

Thanks,
George

 

[G Lykos]

Also, is there a name for this structure of formula (multiple equals)?

Thanks again.

 

[Bob Phillips]

It is invalid, because it doesn't do what it seems to do. It looks like it
is testing all 3 for the same value, but it is not, it tests A1=B1, which
resolves to TRUE or FALSE, and then tests C1 against that result. Thus if
they all equal 1, A1=B1 resolves to TRUE, but TRUE=1 resolves to FALSE, so
you get FALSE.

You should use

=AND(A1=B1,A1=C1)

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(replace somewhere in email address with gmail if mailing direct)