how do i locate a certain number in a grid?

[saf75]

this is probably a stupid question & is something i should know how to do.

i have a grid that looke something like this
24 25 26 27
1 2 3 4
4 4 4 4
5 6 7 8
8 8 8 8
9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16

how do i get it to find a certain number in the grid & return the number at the top?
i can set the row number from a formula in a different cell but the numbers in the grid are "fluid" & wont always be in the same place

[#2]

You have to specifically define the location of your lookup number. If, for example, you are looking for the number 4 in your given data, you have to specify which 4 is that. Otherwise, Excel cannot exactly determine which 4 you are looking for. Even without Excel, you cannot identify which 4 because there are 5 4’s in your data. If you cannot possibly identify it, you cannot also identify which formula to use, and inevitably, Excel has no way by which your desired result could be returned!

[#3]

the extra 4s can easily be removed or set to different numbers if needs be

[#4]

Still, you have to identify which of the 4’s are considered “extra”.

[#5]

yeah thats easy enough i know which i need, its just a case of me deleting the 1s i dont need

[#6]

Therefore, ensure that your lookup numbers are unique.