ok, I'm trying to use it elsewhere in the same worksheet, and now it's
reading it backwards! and I copied it and only changed the ranges....

here's what I have:(partial of the table)
Col B Col C Col D
Jan-08 0.00 0.00
Feb-08 80.00 80.00
Mar-08 (34.00) 46.00
46.00
46.00
46.00

Reference:
cell: $C$3
January-08

Formula:
=MAX(IF(B23:B49<=$C$3,D23:D49))

Results:
46.00

which is backwards! it should be 0.00

what did I do wrong? or is this flubbing up somewhere?

Jen B (very frustrated!)