Lookup closest number in list

[Guest]

Hi

I have a list of numbers in column "B" and I also have a number in cell A1.

I want to get the closest number in column B to the value in A1 using a
formula,
is this possible?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Guest]

Use VLOOKUP.
For example, if your list in Column B is in B1:B5:

=VLOOKUP(A1,$B$1:$B$5,1,1)

tj

 

[JulieD]

Hi Jeff

you can use the Lookup function if the numbers in B are sorted ascending
=LOOKUP(A1,B1:B100)

Cheers
JulieD

 

[Guest]

Forgot to Add, VLOOKUP will always returns the biggest value in Column B that
is still smaller than your LOOKUP value.

See:
http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions02.html

For more details.

tj

 

[Dave Peterson]

Another interpretation:

=INDEX(B1:B99,MATCH(1,--(ABS(B1:B99-A1)=MIN(ABS(B1:B99-A1))),0))

This is an array formula. Hit ctrl-shift-enter instead of enter. If you do it
correctly, excel will wrap curly brackets {} around your formula. (don't type
them yourself.)

 

[Chip Pearson]

See the "Closest Match Lookups" section at
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/lookups.htm .

--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com

 

[Dave Peterson]

After looking at Chip's response, I like this better:

=INDEX(B1:B99,MATCH(MIN(ABS(B1:B99-A1)),ABS(B1:B99-A1),0))

Still array entered, though.