Thanks to all and Shatin really cleared it up completely.

Thanks again,
lomax
"Shatin" wrote in message
...
I was also completely confused by the formula ROW(INDIRECT("1:5")) often
used in array formulas until I read John Walkenback's Excel Formulas 2003.

In dealing with arrays, we often want to generate an integer array like
this
{1,2,3,4,5}. The row() function can achieve this.

So why not simply row(1:5)? The reason is if rows have been added to or
deleted from the worksheet, row(1:5) may become row(2:6), row(3:7)... In
fact all sorts of things can happen. The INDIRECT function is used to make
sure that this will not happen. Whether you add or delete rows,
ROW(INDIRECT("1:5")) will always return the {1,2,3,4,5} array.

"Lomax" wrote in message
news:MLh4f.88$282.15@dukeread08...
I have a list of $ values in F4-F16 need to average the largest 5
amounts.

I copied this from Your website and made a slight mod to accommodate the
5
instead of 10 as on the site.
={AVERAGE(LARGE(F4:F16,ROW(INDIRECT("1:5"))))}

I understand all but the (indirect("1:5)). I hate to be a bother but
could
you explain this part? What does the indirect function perform?

Thanks lomax