Try this array formula** :

=MAX(IF(B1:B10="word",A1:A10))

Note that you can't use entire columns as range references unless you're
using Excel 2007.

** array formulas need to be entered using the key combination of
CTRL,SHIFT,ENTER (not just ENTER)

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"jzingman" wrote in message
...
I want the maximum of column A when column B contains a certain word. I
tried
=max(A:A*(B:B="word"))

but get 0. Thinking that the B reference was the problem, I tried

=max(B:B="word")

and get 0, although if I choose a cell that contains word,

=max(B5="word")

I get 1. So clearly I don't know how to do this reference. What's the
right way?

Thanks