Another way, via index/match
Assume your reference table in A1:D4
where "data" area is in B2:D4

In A12: item1 (the item to match in the vertical col range A2:A4)
In A13: item2 (the item to match in the horiz row range B1:D1)
Then in say, A14:
=INDEX($B$2:$D$4,MATCH(A12,$A$2:$A$4,0),MATCH(A13, $B$1:$D$1,0))
Above is a common, simnple way to read tables & extract intersection values.
Learn it once, apply everywhere else forever. Success? hit the YES below.
--
Max
Singapore
---
"Eric_in_EVV" wrote:
I have a spreadsheet (call it a matrix) that has item numbers going down
column A and item numbers going across row 1. I need to find the
intersection of any two item numbers based upon item numbers in a different
spreadsheet (call it a plan) in consecutive rows. Let me illustrate:

The Matrix:

Row 1 - item1 item2 item3
Col A ------ ------- -------
------
item1 1.0 1.5 1.25
item2 1.5 1.0 2.0
item3 1.25 2.0 1.0

The Plan:

row 1- item1 and a bunch of other stuff in other columns
row 2- item3 and a bunch of other sutff in other columns

What I need to be able to do is use the item numbers from row 1 and row 2 to
get the value from the Matrix....the value is where item1 and item3 intersect
in the Matrix. So for this example, the value returned would be 1.25.

Does this make any sense.....and is it possible ??