Statistical Functions in Microsoft Excel

As you read, review Table 1, which outlines the most common statistical functions in Microsoft Excel. You can apply these functions to a large set of data entered in a spreadsheet. The rest of this section details how to use each type of function in a budget spreadsheet.

The MIN and MAX Functions

Data file: Continue with CH2 Personal Budget.

The final two statistical functions that we will add to the Budget Detail worksheet are the MAX and MIN functions. These functions identify the highest and lowest values in a range of cells. The following steps explain how to add these functions to the Budget Detail worksheet:

  1. Click cell D15 in the Budget Detail worksheet
  2. Type an equal sign: =
  3. Type the word MIN
  4. Type an open parenthesis: (
  5. Highlight the range D3:D11
  6. Type a closing parenthesis ) and press the ENTER key, or simply press the ENTER key and Excel will close the function for you; the MIN function produces an output of $1,200, which is the lowest value in the Annual Spend column (see Figure 14)
  7. Click cell D16
  8. Type an equal sign: =
  9. Type the word MAX
  10. Type an open parenthesis: (
  11. Highlight the range D3:D11
  12. Type a closing parenthesis ) and press the ENTER key, or simply press the ENTER key and Excel will close the function for you. The MAX function produces an output of $3,500. This is the highest value in the Annual Spend column (see Figure 15).

The MIN function in formula as "=MIN(D3:D11)" and output of "$1,200" in cell D15 for Min Spend.

Figure 14 MIN Function Added to the Budget Detail Worksheet

The MAX function in formula as "=MAX(D3:D11)" and output of "$3,500" in cell D16 for Max Spend.

Figure 15 MAX Function Added to the Budget Detail Worksheet


Skill Refresher

Statistical Functions
  1. Type an equal sign: =
  2. Type the function name followed by an open parenthesis ( or double click the function name from the function list
  3. Highlight a range on a worksheet or click individual cell locations followed by commas
  4. Type a closing parenthesis ) and press the ENTER key or press the ENTER key to close the function