MIN and MAX in Power BI - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

Sales amounts for different transactions in a store.

Cell	Value
A1	Sales
A2	150
A3	300
A4	120
A5	450
A6	200

Formula Trace

MIN(A2:A6)

Step 1: Values in A2:A6 = {150, 300, 120, 450, 200}

Step 2: MIN({150, 300, 120, 450, 200})

Cell Reference Map

   A   
1 Sales 
2 150  
3 300  
4 120  
5 450  
6 200  

Formula references cells A2 to A6 for sales values.

The formula MIN(A2:A6) uses the sales values from cells A2 through A6.

Result

   A   
1 Sales 
2 150  
3 300  
4 120  
5 450  
6 200  
7 Min: 120

The minimum sales value 120 is shown in cell A7.

The result of the MIN formula is 120, the smallest sales amount.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What does the formula MIN(A2:A6) return?

A The largest value in cells A2 to A6

B The sum of values in cells A2 to A6

C The smallest value in cells A2 to A6

D The average of values in cells A2 to A6

Key Result

MIN(range) returns the smallest number in the given range; MAX(range) returns the largest number.

Practice

1.

What does the MIN function do in Power BI?

easy

A. It returns the smallest value in a column.

B. It returns the largest value in a column.

C. It counts the number of rows in a table.

D. It sums all values in a column.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of MIN

   The MIN function is designed to find the smallest value in a column of data.

2. Step 2: Compare with other functions

   Unlike MAX which finds the largest, MIN specifically returns the smallest value.

3. Final Answer:

   It returns the smallest value in a column. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   MIN = smallest value [OK]

Hint: MIN always finds the smallest number in a list [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing MIN with MAX
• Thinking MIN counts rows
• Assuming MIN sums values

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to find the maximum value in a column named Sales[Amount] using DAX?

easy

A. MAX(Sales[Amount])

B. MAXIMUM(Sales[Amount])

C. MAX_VALUE(Sales[Amount])

D. MAX(Sales.Amount)

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct DAX function name

   The correct function to find the largest value is MAX, not MAXIMUM or MAX_VALUE.

2. Step 2: Check column reference syntax

   In DAX, columns are referenced as TableName[ColumnName], so Sales[Amount] is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   MAX(Sales[Amount]) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   MAX + [Column] syntax [OK]

Hint: Use MAX(Table[Column]) to get largest value [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using wrong function names like MAXIMUM
• Using dot notation instead of brackets
• Adding extra words in function name

3.

Given the table Sales with Amount values: 100, 250, 75, 300, what is the result of MIN(Sales[Amount]) and MAX(Sales[Amount])?

medium

A. MIN = 75, MAX = 250

B. MIN = 100, MAX = 250

C. MIN = 0, MAX = 300

D. MIN = 75, MAX = 300

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify smallest value in Amount column

   The values are 100, 250, 75, 300. The smallest is 75.

2. Step 2: Identify largest value in Amount column

   The largest value among these is 300.

3. Final Answer:

   MIN = 75, MAX = 300 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   MIN = 75, MAX = 300 [OK]

Hint: MIN picks smallest, MAX picks largest number [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Mixing up smallest and largest values
• Assuming zero is minimum without data
• Ignoring actual data values

4.

What is wrong with this DAX expression to find the minimum sales amount?
MIN(Sales.Amount)

medium

A. MIN cannot be used on numeric columns.

B. The table and column should be referenced with brackets, not dot notation.

C. The function should be MAX, not MIN.

D. The expression is correct as is.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check column reference syntax

   DAX requires columns to be referenced as TableName[ColumnName], not TableName.ColumnName.

2. Step 2: Validate function usage

   MIN is valid for numeric columns, so the function is correct but the syntax is wrong.

3. Final Answer:

   The table and column should be referenced with brackets, not dot notation. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use brackets for columns in DAX [OK]

Hint: Use brackets [ ] for columns, not dot . [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using dot notation instead of brackets
• Confusing MIN with MAX
• Thinking MIN can't be used on numbers

5.

You have a sales table with columns Region and SalesAmount. You want to create a measure that shows the maximum sales amount only for the East region. Which DAX expression is correct?

A) MAX(Sales[SalesAmount])
B) CALCULATE(MAX(Sales[SalesAmount]), FILTER(Sales[Region] = "East"))
C) MAXX(FILTER(Sales, Sales[Region] = "East"), Sales[SalesAmount])
D) MIN(Sales[SalesAmount])

hard

A. MAX(Sales[SalesAmount])

B. CALCULATE(MAX(Sales[SalesAmount]), FILTER(Sales[Region] = "East"))

C. MAXX(FILTER(Sales, Sales[Region] = "East"), Sales[SalesAmount])

D. MIN(Sales[SalesAmount])

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand filtering by region

   We want the max sales amount only for the East region, so we must filter the table to East.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   MAX(Sales[SalesAmount]) returns max for all regions.
   CALCULATE(MAX(Sales[SalesAmount]), FILTER(Sales[Region] = "East")) uses FILTER incorrectly; FILTER requires a table as the first argument followed by a condition.
   MAXX(FILTER(Sales, Sales[Region] = "East"), Sales[SalesAmount]) correctly filters Sales to East and then finds max SalesAmount.
   MIN returns minimum, not maximum.

3. Final Answer:

   MAXX(FILTER(Sales, Sales[Region] = "East"), Sales[SalesAmount]) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Use MAXX + FILTER for conditional max [OK]

Hint: Use MAXX with FILTER for max with conditions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using MAX without filtering
• Incorrect CALCULATE filter syntax
• Using MIN instead of MAX