Can i use a reference inside Countif

[LAM]

I have a range of cells containing dates which I've changed to general
formatting. I need to count these when the info expires i.e. after 36 months.
I've got a formula in a cell to take todays date - the 36 months (38810
days). I then thought I'd be able to use count if, using the formula below
works but once i change the number to a cell reference I get 0 as a result?

=COUNTIF(AM11:AM19,"<=38810") - works

=COUNTIF(AM11:AM19,"<=$B$771") - returns as zero

Cheers

 

[Ron Rosenfeld]

=COUNTIF(AM11:AM19,"<=$B$771")

Try:

=COUNTIF(AM11:AM19,"<=" & $B$771)
--ron