The Google Sheets function MINA is a powerful tool that simplifies the process of identifying the minimum numeric value from a selected range of data. Unlike the traditional MIN function, MINA also considers logical values and text representations of numbers when performing calculations, making it versatile for various datasets.

Syntax

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

• value1: The first value or range to evaluate.
• value2: Optional additional values or ranges to include.

Example #1

MINA(A1:A5)

This function will examine the data in cells A1 to A5, returning the minimum numeric value, considering both numbers and logical values. For example, if A1 is 10, A2 is 4, A3 is TRUE, A4 is 7, and A5 is “3”, it will return 3 as the result.

Example #2

MINA(B1:B10)

This evaluates the cells from B1 to B10 for the minimum numeric value. If B1 holds 0, B2 has -2, B3 has 5, and rest are empty, it will return -2 as it is the smallest value.

Example #3

MINA("10", FALSE, 5)

This example uses a mix of a text representation of a number and a logical value. Here, it converts “10” and FALSE (which is treated as 0), resulting in a minimum value of 0.

Error handling

• VALUE!: This error occurs when non-numeric values are included in the function call that cannot be evaluated as numbers.
• N/A: This means that no values present can be evaluated. The function didn’t find any valid numbers or logical values.

Conclusion

In summary, the MINA function in Google Sheets is an invaluable tool for data analysis, offering the ability to find the minimum value across a dataset that includes not just numbers, but logical values and text representations of numbers as well. By understanding its syntax and functionality, users can leverage this function to make better data-driven decisions with ease.