sorting - Ranking in Excel, when I want the top n I get the top n+1 (or n+x) -

i have list in excel , i'd select higher 3 results, , 3. seems easy conditional formatting in example:

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  44 | 78 | 98 | 45 | 52 | 98 

where 2nd, 3rd , 6th number highlighted.

the problem appears this:

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  44 | 78 | 78 | 45 | 87 | 98 

excel highlight 2nd, 3rd, 5th , 6th number, because first 2 (the third on sorted list) equal. how can make excel select 1 of them?

(the solution doesn't need use conditional formatting, tools available on excel can used, formulas vb, simplicity it's desirable).

for conditional formatting, need break tie. 1 way count number of times value appears in previous comparisons.

this change conditional formula to

=(rank(a2,$a$2:$f$2)+countif($a$2:a$2,a2)-1)<=3 

note absolute positions used in cases, , relative in others.

breakdown:
rank(a2,$a$2:$f$2) - rank formula. know one, you're using now
countif($a$2:a$2,a2) - count number of times value appears - note reference not have $ in front of a after colon - ensure range gets bigger process formula along row (1st count: a2:a2, 2nd count: a2:b2, etc)
-1 - count match 1 number (itself)

so, second example,

44  78  78  45  87  98 

the new ranks are

6   3   4   5   2   1 

and formulas convert

=rank(a2,$a$2:$f$2)+countif($a$2:a$2,a2)-1
=rank(b2,$a$2:$f$2)+countif($a$2:b$2,b2)-1
=rank(c2,$a$2:$f$2)+countif($a$2:c$2,c2)-1
=rank(d2,$a$2:$f$2)+countif($a$2:d$2,d2)-1
=rank(e2,$a$2:$f$2)+countif($a$2:e$2,e2)-1
=rank(f2,$a$2:$f$2)+countif($a$2:f$2,f2)-1

for conditional formatting