MAX

Microsoft Office Excel 2003

See Also

Returns the largest value in a set of values.

Syntax

MAX(number1,number2,...)

Number1, number2, ...    are 1 to 30 numbers for which you want to find the maximum value.

Remarks

  • You can specify arguments that are numbers, empty cells, logical values, or text representations of numbers. Arguments that are error values or text that cannot be translated into numbers cause errors.
  • If an argument is an array or reference, only numbers in that array or reference are used. Empty cells, logical values, or text in the array or reference are ignored. If logical values and text must not be ignored, use MAXA instead.
  • If the arguments contain no numbers, MAX returns 0 (zero).

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

ShowHow?

  1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
  2. Select the example in the Help topic. Do not select the row or column headers.

    Selecting an example from Help

    Selecting an example from Help

  3. Press CTRL+C.
  4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
  5. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.
 
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A
Data
10
7
9
27
2
Formula Description (Result)
=MAX(A2:A6) Largest of the numbers above (27)
=MAX(A2:A6, 30) Largest of the numbers above and 30 (30)