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Google Sheets provides a convenient way to compare data across three columns by using the VLOOKUP function. This function looks for a specific value in the leftmost column of a range and returns a corresponding value from another column. This makes it easy to compare values in different columns and identify trends, patterns, or discrepancies in the data. To use this function, you need to specify the search term, the range of cells to search, the index of the column to return, and whether or not the search is case-sensitive. With this tool, you can quickly and easily compare data in three columns in Google Sheets.
You can use the following basic formula to compare three columns in Google Sheets:
=IF(AND(B2=C2,C2=D2),"Equal","Not Equal")
This particular formula compares the values in cells B2, C2, and D2.
If all of the values are equal, the formula returns Equal. Otherwise, it returns Not Equal.
The following example shows how to use this formula in practice.
Example: Compare Three Columns in Google Sheets
Suppose we have the following dataset that shows the highest scorer on various basketball teams during three different games:
We can type the following formula into cell E2 to test if the three values in the first row are all equal:
=IF(AND(B2=C2,C2=D2),"Equal","Not Equal")
We can then drag this formula in cell E2 down to the remaining cells in column E to test for matches in each row:
Notice that the formula only returns Equal for the rows where the cell values are equal across each of the three columns.
For example:
- The first row displays Equal since each value in columns B through D is equal to Doug.
- The second row displays Equal since each value in columns B through D is equal to Mike.
- The third row displays Not Equal since the values in columns B through D are not all equal.
And so on.