where data is an Excel Table in the range B5:D16. The result is a list of the values in Group A that are within +/- 0.05 of 1.2.
Background reading
This article assumes you are familiar with Excel Tables and the FILTER function. If not, see:
Excel Tables - introduction and overview Value is within tolerance - formula example The FILTER function - introduction and overview Basic FILTER function example (video) Dynamic Array Formulas (paid training)
Filter by Group
In order to extract records where the group is “A”, we can use FILTER like this: Here, the array argument is the entire table, since we want both columns in the output. The include argument is supplied as a simple logical expression that returns TRUE or FALSE for each value in the Group column: Because we want the group to be a variable input, we need to replace the hardcoded text string “A” with a reference to cell G4, which allows the user to change the group as desired: Now when a user types “B” into cell G4, FILTER will extract all values from group B.
Values within tolerance
The next task in the formula is to test for values within a given tolerance, where the target value comes from cell G5, and the acceptable tolerance is defined in cell G6. The generic logical expression for this test looks like this: The ABS function is used to convert negative differences to positive values. See this formula for a more detailed explanation. Mapping the cell references in the example to the generic formula, we get this logical expression: This expression will return TRUE or FALSE for each number in the Value column. To extract all values within tolerance, ignoring group, we can use the expression above as the include argument in FILTER: FILTER will ignore group and return all values within tolerance.
Combining expressions
Now we need to combine both logical conditions above into a single formula. For this, we use Boolean logic. Because we want to join the two expressions with AND (i.e. we want to enforce both conditions) we use the multiplication operator between the expressions like this: Each expression generates its own array of TRUE and FALSE values, and the multiplication operation automatically coerces the TRUE and FALSE values to 1s and 0s. The standalone formula above will return 1 for values that meet both conditions, and 0 for other values. Video: Boolean algebra in Excel Finally, we need to place the expression into the FILTER function as the include argument: This is the final formula. With “A” in G4, 1.2 in G5, and 0.05 in G6, the FILTER function returns rows in the table where values in Group A are within +/- 0.05 of 1.2. These results are returned to cell F9 and spill onto the worksheet. If any of the variable inputs in G4:G6 are changed, results are immediately updated.
Filter on values out of tolerance
To reverse the logic explained above to show values that are out of tolerance, simply change the logical operator in the tolerance expression from less than or equal to (<=), to greater than (>): The screen below shows the result:
Dave Bruns
Hi - I’m Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.
