MIN and MAX functions in Google Sheets - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - MIN and MAX functions

Goal

Find the smallest and largest sales amounts from a list of sales data to understand the range of sales performance.

Sample Data

Salesperson	Sales Amount
Alice	250
Bob	400
Charlie	150
Diana	300
Eva	500

Dashboard Components

• Minimum Sales: A KPI card showing the smallest sales amount.
  Formula: =MIN(B2:B6)
  Result: 150
• Maximum Sales: A KPI card showing the largest sales amount.
  Formula: =MAX(B2:B6)
  Result: 500
• Sales Data Table: Shows all salespersons and their sales amounts for reference.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------+----------------+
| Minimum Sales  | Maximum Sales  |
|     150        |      500       |
+----------------+----------------+
|        Sales Data Table          |
|  Salesperson  |  Sales Amount    |
|  Alice       |  250             |
|  Bob         |  400             |
|  Charlie     |  150             |
|  Diana       |  300             |
|  Eva         |  500             |
+---------------------------------+

Interactivity

Add a filter to select specific salespersons. When you choose a salesperson, the Minimum Sales and Maximum Sales cards update to show the smallest and largest sales amounts only for the selected salesperson(s). The Sales Data Table also updates to show only the filtered rows.

Self Check

If you add a filter to show only salespersons with sales above 300, which components update and what are their new values?

• Minimum Sales card updates to 400 (Bob's sales).
• Maximum Sales card updates to 500 (Eva's sales).
• Sales Data Table shows only Bob and Eva rows.

Key Result

Dashboard shows the smallest and largest sales amounts from a sales list with filterable salespersons.

Practice

1. What does the MIN function do in Google Sheets?

easy

A. Finds the smallest number in a range or list

B. Finds the largest number in a range or list

C. Adds all numbers in a range or list

D. Counts how many numbers are in a range or list

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of MIN

   The MIN function looks through numbers and picks the smallest one.

2. Step 2: Compare with other functions

   Unlike MAX which finds the largest, MIN finds the smallest number.

3. Final Answer:

   Finds the smallest number in a range or list -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   MIN = smallest number [OK]

Hint: MIN always returns the smallest number [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing MIN with MAX
• Thinking MIN adds numbers
• Assuming MIN counts numbers

2. Which of these is the correct way to write a formula to find the maximum value in cells A1 to A5?

easy

A. =MAX[A1:A5]

B. =MAX(A1:A5)

C. MAX(A1:A5)

D. =max(A1 to A5)

Solution

1. Step 1: Check correct formula syntax

   Google Sheets formulas start with = and use parentheses for arguments.

2. Step 2: Identify correct MAX usage

   =MAX(A1:A5) correctly uses =, function name in uppercase, and range in parentheses.

3. Final Answer:

   =MAX(A1:A5) -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct formula syntax =MAX(range) [OK]

Hint: Always start formulas with = and use parentheses [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using square brackets instead of parentheses
• Omitting the = sign
• Writing function name in lowercase without =

3. Given the values in cells B1 to B4 as 10, 25, 7, and 18 respectively, what will =MIN(B1:B4) return?

medium

A. 25

B. 10

C. 18

D. 7

Solution

1. Step 1: List the values in B1 to B4

   The values are 10, 25, 7, and 18.

2. Step 2: Find the smallest value

   Among these, 7 is the smallest number.

3. Final Answer:

   7 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   MIN(10,25,7,18) = 7 [OK]

Hint: MIN picks the smallest number in the range [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing the first number instead of the smallest
• Confusing MIN with MAX
• Selecting the average instead

4. You wrote the formula =MAX(B1:B5 but it shows an error. What is the problem?

medium

A. Cells B1 to B5 are empty

B. MAX function cannot use ranges

C. Missing closing parenthesis ")"

D. Formula should start with MIN, not MAX

Solution

1. Step 1: Check formula syntax

   The formula is missing the closing parenthesis ")" at the end.

2. Step 2: Understand function requirements

   MAX requires parentheses around its argument range to work correctly.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing closing parenthesis ")" -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Formula syntax error =MAX(range) needs closing ) [OK]

Hint: Always close parentheses in formulas [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to close parentheses
• Thinking MAX can't use ranges
• Confusing MAX with MIN

5. You have sales numbers in cells C1 to C6: 150, 200, 0, 175, 200, 125. You want to find the highest sale excluding zeros. Which formula will give the correct result?

hard

A. =MAX(FILTER(C1:C6, C1:C6>0))

B. =MAX(C1:C6>0)

C. =MIN(C1:C6)

D. =MAX(IF(C1:C6=0, "", C1:C6))

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the problem

   You want the highest number but ignore zeros.

2. Step 2: Analyze each formula

   B: =MAX(C1:C6>0) incorrectly places condition inside MAX, returns max of booleans (1). A: FILTER selects only numbers > 0, then MAX finds highest among them. C: MIN finds smallest, not highest. D: IF replaces zeros with empty text, but MAX with text causes error.

3. Step 3: Choose the correct formula

   =MAX(FILTER(C1:C6, C1:C6>0)) correctly filters out zeros before finding MAX.

4. Final Answer:

   =MAX(FILTER(C1:C6, C1:C6>0)) -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Filter out zeros, then MAX = highest non-zero [OK]

Hint: Use FILTER to exclude zeros before MAX [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using MAX without filtering zeros
• Using MIN instead of MAX
• Replacing zeros with text causing errors