To insert a special character (arrow) in an IF statement:

You can use the CHAR function along with the Unicode value of the arrow you want to insert. Here's how you can modify your formula to show arrows instead of text:

In the above formula, CHAR(8593) represents the upward arrow and CHAR(8595) represents the downward arrow.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use arrows in your IF statement:

1. Open the Excel worksheet where you want to use the IF statement.
2. Select the cell where you want to insert the formula.
3. Type the formula
   Formula:

   =IF(D9C9,CHAR(8593),CHAR(8595)) 

   in the formula bar.
4. Press Enter to apply the formula to the cell.
5. The cell will now display an upward arrow if the value in cell D9 is greater than the value in cell C9, and a downward arrow if the value in cell D9 is less than the value in cell C9.

That's it! You can now use arrows in your IF statement to show the direction of improvement or regression.