Try this but note that blank columns will "pass" the the test:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A10:A40<--"2006/04/01"),(--(B10:B40<--"2006/04/01")))

To ignore blanks:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A10:A40<--"2006/04/01"),--(A10:A40<""),--(B10:B40<--"2006/04/01"),--(B10:B40<""))

HTH

"Manni" wrote:

Column A has dates
Column B has dates

I need to count the number of times that there is an entry in column B
within a date range (I am looking to do this by quarter) and an entry in
column A within that same date range. The data needs to be imbedded into the
formula rather than a seperate control cell. I have tried the following
formula but am not getting the right answer:

=SUMPRODUCT(--(A10:A40<4/1/6),(--(B10:B40<4/1/6)))

The answer to by formula should be 2 but this is producing 24. Note that
the data is on another worksheet.

Thanks!