LARGE and SMALL in Excel - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the LARGE function do in Excel?

The LARGE function returns the nth largest value from a list or range of numbers. For example, =LARGE(A1:A10, 2) gives the 2nd largest number in cells A1 to A10.

beginner

What does the SMALL function do in Excel?

The SMALL function returns the nth smallest value from a list or range of numbers. For example, =SMALL(A1:A10, 3) gives the 3rd smallest number in cells A1 to A10.

beginner

How do you find the largest number in a range using LARGE?

Use =LARGE(range, 1). The number 1 means the largest value. For example, =LARGE(B2:B20, 1) returns the biggest number in B2 to B20.

beginner

How do you find the smallest number in a range using SMALL?

Use =SMALL(range, 1). The number 1 means the smallest value. For example, =SMALL(C1:C15, 1) returns the smallest number in C1 to C15.

intermediate

Can LARGE and SMALL functions handle ties (same numbers)?

Yes. If there are duplicate numbers, LARGE and SMALL count them separately. For example, if the largest number appears twice, =LARGE(range, 1) and =LARGE(range, 2) can both return that same number.

What does =LARGE(A1:A5, 3) return?

A The 3rd largest number in A1:A5

B The 3rd smallest number in A1:A5

C The largest number in A1:A5

D The smallest number in A1:A5

LARGE returns the nth largest number. Here, n=3 means the 3rd largest.

Which formula finds the smallest number in a range?

A <code>=LARGE(range, 1)</code>

B <code>=MIN(range)</code>

C <code>=MAX(range)</code>

D <code>=SMALL(range, 1)</code>

SMALL(range, 1) returns the smallest number. MIN also works but is different from SMALL which can find other smallest values.

If you want the 2nd smallest number in B1:B10, which formula do you use?

A <code>=MIN(B1:B10)</code>

B <code>=LARGE(B1:B10, 2)</code>

C <code>=SMALL(B1:B10, 2)</code>

D <code>=MAX(B1:B10)</code>

SMALL(range, 2) returns the 2nd smallest number.

What happens if you use =LARGE(A1:A5, 6) but the range has only 5 numbers?

A Returns an error

B Returns 0

C Returns the smallest number

D Returns the largest number

If n is larger than the number of values, LARGE returns a #NUM! error.

Which function can find the 4th largest value in a list?

A <code>=SMALL(range, 4)</code>

B <code>=LARGE(range, 4)</code>

C <code>=MAX(range)</code>

D <code>=MIN(range)</code>

LARGE(range, 4) returns the 4th largest value.

Explain how to use the LARGE function to find the top 3 highest scores in a list.

Think about changing the second number in LARGE to get different top values.

Describe the difference between LARGE and SMALL functions and when you might use each.

One finds high values, the other finds low values.

Practice

1. What does the Excel function LARGE(range, k) do?

easy

A. Returns the smallest number in the range

B. Returns the k-th largest number in the range

C. Returns the sum of the largest k numbers

D. Returns the average of the range

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the function purpose

   The LARGE function is designed to find the k-th largest value in a list or range of numbers.

2. Step 2: Compare options with function behavior

   Only Returns the k-th largest number in the range correctly describes that it returns the k-th largest number, not the smallest, sum, or average.

3. Final Answer:

   Returns the k-th largest number in the range -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   LARGE(range, k) = k-th largest number [OK]

Hint: LARGE picks biggest; SMALL picks smallest number [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing LARGE with SUM or AVERAGE
• Thinking LARGE returns smallest values
• Mixing up k-th largest with total count

2. Which of these is the correct syntax to find the 3rd smallest number in cells A1 to A10?

easy

A. =SMALL(A1:A10, 3)

B. =SMALL(3, A1:A10)

C. =SMALL(A1:A10)

D. =SMALL(A1:A10, "3")

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall SMALL function syntax

   The correct syntax is SMALL(range, k) where range is the data and k is the position.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   =SMALL(A1:A10, 3) matches the correct syntax. =SMALL(3, A1:A10) reverses arguments, =SMALL(A1:A10) misses k, =SMALL(A1:A10, "3") uses a string instead of a number.

3. Final Answer:

   =SMALL(A1:A10, 3) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   SMALL(range, k) correct syntax [OK]

Hint: Use SMALL(range, k) with number k, not string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping arguments order
• Omitting the k value
• Using quotes around k

3. Given the values in cells A1 to A5: 10, 25, 15, 30, 20, what is the result of =LARGE(A1:A5, 2)?

medium

A. 30

B. 20

C. 15

D. 25

Solution

1. Step 1: List values and sort descending

   The values are 10, 25, 15, 30, 20. Sorted largest to smallest: 30, 25, 20, 15, 10.

2. Step 2: Identify 2nd largest value

   The 2nd largest value is 25.

3. Final Answer:

   25 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   LARGE(..., 2) = 2nd largest = 25 [OK]

Hint: Sort values mentally to find k-th largest [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing the largest instead of 2nd largest
• Confusing LARGE with SMALL
• Miscounting the position k

4. You wrote =SMALL(A1:A5, 0) to find the smallest number. What is wrong and how to fix it?

medium

A. k cannot be zero; change 0 to 1

B. Range is wrong; use A1:A6 instead

C. Use LARGE instead of SMALL

D. Add quotes around 0 like "0"

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand k parameter rules

   In SMALL(range, k), k must be a positive integer starting at 1 to pick the smallest, 2nd smallest, etc.

2. Step 2: Identify the error and fix

   Using 0 for k is invalid. Change it to 1 to get the smallest value.

3. Final Answer:

   k cannot be zero; change 0 to 1 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   k ≥ 1 for SMALL function [OK]

Hint: k must be 1 or more, never zero [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using zero or negative k values
• Changing range unnecessarily
• Confusing SMALL with LARGE

5. You have sales data in B2:B11. To find the 3rd highest sale excluding zeros, which formula works correctly?

hard

A. =LARGE(B2:B11, 3)

B. =SMALL(B2:B11, 3)

C. =LARGE(IF(B2:B11>0, B2:B11), 3) (entered as array formula)

D. =LARGE(B2:B11, 4)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the problem requirement

   We want the 3rd largest sale but only counting values greater than zero (exclude zeros).

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   =LARGE(B2:B11, 3) includes zeros, so might pick zero if it is among top 3. =LARGE(IF(B2:B11>0, B2:B11), 3) (entered as array formula) uses IF to filter out zeros and requires array formula entry, which is correct. =SMALL(B2:B11, 3) uses SMALL, wrong direction. =LARGE(B2:B11, 4) picks 4th largest, not 3rd.

3. Final Answer:

   =LARGE(IF(B2:B11>0, B2:B11), 3) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Filter zeros with IF, then LARGE(..., 3) [OK]

Hint: Use IF to exclude zeros inside LARGE with array formula [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Not excluding zeros, getting wrong rank
• Using SMALL instead of LARGE
• Wrong k value for position