The MIN function returns the smallest value in a set of numbers.
It is useful for analyzing data, especially in financial reports or statistical studies, when you need to determine the smallest value in a group of numbers.
Syntax
MIN(value1, [value2, ...])
Argument |
Description |
Permitted values |
|---|---|---|
value1 |
First value or range to consider when calculating the minimum value |
Number, cell reference, or range |
[value2, ...] |
(optional) Additional values or ranges |
Number, cell reference, or range |
Examples of use
Search for the minimum in the range
If you have data in cells A1:A10, you can find the minimum value as follows:
=MIN(A1:A10)
This formula will return the smallest value from the specified range.
Searching for the minimum among individual numbers
=MIN(10, 20, 5, 30, 15)
In this case, the formula will return 5, as this is the smallest number.
Combining ranges and values
=MIN(A1:A10, 25, B1:B5)
This formula will find the minimum value among the specified ranges and the number 25.
Notes
–The MIN function ignores text values and empty cells in the range.
–If there are no numbers in the range, the function will return the #VALUE! error.