The MIN function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool used for identifying the smallest number in a collection of values. It simplifies data analysis and assists users in making informed decisions by quickly providing the minimum value from a dataset, which can be particularly useful in financial calculations, statistics, and general data assessments.

Syntax

MIN(value1, [value2, ...])

• value1: The first number, cell reference, or range to evaluate.
• value2: (Optional) Additional numbers, cell references, or ranges to consider; can include multiple values.

Example #1

MIN(A1:A10)

This function checks the range from A1 to A10 and returns the smallest number within that range. Result Example: If the range contains values such as 15, 23, 5, 33, the output will be 5.

Example #2

MIN(10, 25, 5, 12)

This function directly evaluates the numbers 10, 25, 5, and 12 to find the minimum value. Result Example: The result will be 5, as it is the smallest number being evaluated.

Example #3

MIN(B2:B5, D2:D5)

This checks two ranges, B2 to B5 and D2 to D5, to determine the overall minimum value across both ranges. Result Example: If B2:B5 has values 7, 8, 9, 5 and D2:D5 contains 6, 10, 11, 2, the result will be 2.

Error handling

• VALUE!: Occurs if any of the arguments are non-numeric. This indicates invalid input for numerical calculation.
• N/A: May appear if a referenced range does not contain any numeric values, meaning there is nothing to evaluate.
• REF!: Occurs when a referenced cell is deleted, making the function unable to locate the data it needs to compute the minimum.

Conclusion

The MIN function in Google Sheets is an essential tool for anyone working with numerical data. Its ability to quickly identify the smallest value in a dataset enhances efficiency and accuracy in data analysis. Whether you’re evaluating sales figures, test scores, or any other numerical datasets, the MIN function provides critical insights that aid in informed decision-making.