Microsoft Excel: MIN, MAX vs SMALL, LARGE functions

MIN() & MAX()

As we already know MIN() and MAX() functions gives the minimum or maximum number from a given range.

Basic Syntax:

=MIN(range)

=MAX(range)

Let’s apply this for a practical use case:

Suppose we have the following data.

Applying min and max gives us the above result. MIN() function returns the smallest value among the range and MAX() function returns the greatest number within the range.

Suppose you wanted to extract the second smallest number or the third largest number.

Using MIN and MAX you couldn’t find out these values.

To find out values like the second smallest number or the third largest number we can use the small and large functions. These functions can even be used in place of min and max to find out the absolute minimum and absolute largest. 

Let’s find out how.

SMALL() AND LARGE() functions in excel

Basic Syntax:

=SMALL(range, nth position)

=LARGE(range, nth position)

This function takes 2 arguments, first is the range and second is the position.

Let’s implement the above in MS-Excel

You can clearly notice from our above data set that we have successfully managed to print the second smallest number and the third largest number using small and large functions.

To make small and large behave like min and max, just make the second argument to the function as 1.

Like this:

Notice, now both the functions are giving the same result.

Hope you have found this article to be useful.Stay tuned to receive more such MS-Excel materials.