MIN and MAX functions in Google Sheets - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the formula to find the smallest number in cells A1 to A5.

Google Sheets

=MIN([1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AA1:A5

BA1;A5

CA1-A5

DA1,A5

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a dash or semicolon instead of a colon for ranges.

Listing only two cells separated by a comma.

The MIN function needs a range like A1:A5 to find the smallest value in those cells.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the formula to find the largest number in cells B2 to B6.

Google Sheets

=MAX([1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AB2:B6

BB2-B6

CB2;B6

DB2,B6

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a dash or semicolon instead of a colon for ranges.

Listing only two cells separated by a comma.

The MAX function requires a range like B2:B6 to find the largest value in those cells.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the formula to find the smallest number in cells C1 to C4.

Google Sheets

=MIN([1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AC1,C4

BC1-C4

CC1;C4

DC1:C4

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a dash or semicolon instead of a colon.

Separating cells with a comma instead of a range.

The correct range uses a colon : between the first and last cell to include all cells in between.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a formula that finds the largest number in cells D1 to D3 and E1 to E3.

Google Sheets

=MAX([1], [2])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AD1:D3

BD1-D3

CE1:E3

DE1;E3

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using dashes or semicolons instead of colons for ranges.

Not separating the ranges with a comma.

The MAX function can take multiple ranges separated by commas. Use colons : to specify each range.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a formula that finds the smallest number among cells F1 to F4, G1 to G4, and the number 10.

Google Sheets

=MIN([1], [2], [3])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

AF1:F4

BG1:G4

C10

DF1-F4

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using dashes instead of colons for ranges.

Not including the number 10 as a separate argument.

The MIN function can take multiple ranges and numbers separated by commas. Use colons : for ranges and just write the number directly.

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