Function Reference: MAXA, MINA
| Syntax | ||
| =MAXA(value1,[value2]...[value255]) =MINA(value1,[value2]...[value255]) |
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| Purpose / Description | ||
| Returns the largest value from a set of numbers (MAXA) or the smallest value from a set of numbers (MINA). Each function accepts up to 255 values, references or nested expressions, from which the largest or smallest value is returned. The sign of the numeric values is significant. Unlike MAX and MIN, these functions will include logical values in the calculation, where TRUE is coerced to 1 and FALSE to 0. | ||
| Arguments | ||
| Name | Type | Description |
| value1 | any | A constant, array of constants, reference or nested expression returning a single value or array of values. Logical values in referenced ranges or passed to arguments are coerced and the numeric value included in the calculation of largest or smallest value. Text strings in referenced ranges are ignored. Constant text strings or text strings generated by nested expressions are coerced to number, if possible. If they cannot be coerced, they cause an error. |
| [value2]...[value255] | any | Optional constants, arrays of constants, references or nested expressions returning single values or arrays of values. Logical values in referenced ranges or passed to arguments are coerced and the numeric value included in the calculation of largest or smallest value. Text strings in referenced ranges are ignored. Constant text strings or text strings generated by nested expressions are coerced to number, if possible. If they cannot be coerced, they cause an error. |
| Return Values | ||
| Type | Specific Value | Description |
| number | For MAXA: The numerically largest value from all the values passed or referenced in the arguments. For MINA: The numerically smallest value from all the values passed or referenced in the arguments. |
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| number | If all referenced cells are logical values, text strings or blanks. | |
| error | #VALUE! | Text strings entered as constants or produced by nested expressions that cannot be coerced to number generate this error. |
| error | Any errors referenced by arguments are returned due to propagation of error values. | |
| Notes / Comments / Advice / Warnings | ||
| Note: | Both MAXA and MINA will accept range references that span worksheets in each of their arguments. | |
| Caution: | The online help suggests that to include numbers stored as strings, use MAXA instead of MAX, and to use MINA instead of MIN. This is incorrect, regardless of whether the numeric text strings are in references or constants, or the results of nested expressions, the results for both functions are exactly the same. The only effective difference is that MAXA and MINA will coerce logical values and include them in the calculation. | |
| Examples: | Open / download sample workbook: MAX, MAXA, MIN, MINA.xlsx | |