Assuming the series of numbers is in A1:A10, select the cells in which
you want to top five elements to be returned, type the formula
=LARGE($A$1:$A$10,ROW(INDIRECT("1:5")))
and press CTRL SHIFT ENTER rather than just ENTER. Since this is an
Array Formula, you *must* press CTRL SHIFT ENTER
rather than just ENTER when you first enter the formula
and whenever you edit it later. If you do this properly,
Excel will display the formula in the Formula Bar enclosed
in curly braces { }. (You do not type the curly braces -
Excel includes them automatically.) The formula will not work
properly
if you do not use CTRL SHIFT ENTER. See
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/ArrayFormulas.aspx for lots
more information about array formulas.
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Excel Product Group, 1998 - 2009
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)