Use an IF Formula with Different Multiplication Criteria in WPS Spreadsheets
Question details
The user needs a conditional multiplication formula: when the value in cell 1 (A1) equals zero, the formula should multiply cell 2 (A2) by cell 4 (A4); otherwise it should multiply cell 1 (A1) by cell 4 (A4).
- Product
- WPS Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is building a spreadsheet formula that applies different multiplication factors depending on whether a condition cell is zero.
- Observed behavior
- The formula should return A2*A4 only when A1=0 and return A1*A4 in all other cases.
Open the workbook in WPS Spreadsheets and confirm which cell contains the condition value and which two cells should be multiplied. Ensure the referenced cells contain numeric values or are empty so the multiplication result is predictable.
Enter the IF Formula =IF(A1=0,A2*A4,A1*A4) in WPS Spreadsheets
Use this solution when the condition cell and multiplication cells follow the same A1, A2, A4 layout, or adapt the references to your actual cells.
This formula checks whether A1 is equal to zero. When the condition is true, WPS Spreadsheets returns A2 multiplied by A4; when the condition is false, it returns A1 multiplied by A4.
Click the cell where you want the calculated result to appear.
Enter =IF(A1=0,A2*A4,A1*A4) into the formula bar or directly into the selected cell.
Press Enter. WPS Spreadsheets evaluates the condition and displays A2*A4 when A1 is zero, otherwise A1*A4.
Use Conditional IF Multiplication in WPS Spreadsheets
WPS Spreadsheets supports the same IF function syntax as Excel, so you can enter =IF(A1=0,A2*A4,A1*A4) directly and get the conditional multiplication result without any add-ins or conversion.
- 1. Open your workbook in WPS Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and open the .xlsx or .xls file that contains the cells you want to use.
- 2. Select the target cell: Click the cell where the conditional multiplication result should appear.
- 3. Enter the formula: Type =IF(A1=0,A2*A4,A1*A4) and press Enter. Replace A1, A2, and A4 with your actual cell references if needed.
- 4. Verify and save: Confirm the result changes correctly when the condition cell is zero or non-zero, then save the workbook to keep the formula.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does =IF(A1=0,A2*A4,A1*A4) actually do?
It checks the value in A1. If A1 equals zero, it returns A2 multiplied by A4. If A1 contains any other value, it returns A1 multiplied by A4.
Can I use this formula with different cell references?
Yes. Replace A1, A2, and A4 with your condition cell and the two cells you need to multiply. The logic remains: IF(condition cell=0, second cell*fourth cell, condition cell*fourth cell).
What happens if A1 is blank?
In WPS Spreadsheets, a blank cell is treated as zero in this comparison, so the formula returns A2*A4. If you need to treat blank cells differently, use =IF(AND(A1=0,A1<>""),A2*A4,A1*A4).
Will this formula work in Microsoft Excel too?
Yes. The IF function and multiplication operators use standard Excel-compatible syntax, so the same formula works in both WPS Spreadsheets and Microsoft Excel.
How do I apply this formula to an entire column?
Enter the formula in the first row, then drag the fill handle down. Adjust cell references for each row or use relative references so WPS updates them automatically.
