Description
Use this function to return the largest value in a defined list, including numbers, text, and logical values. Supported in Chains. Can be used with CHILDREFS.
In financial modeling, the MAXA function can be useful in extracting the maximum numeric value, ignoring empty cells. For example, you can calculate the highest test score, or the fastest runner time in a race, the highest temperature, or the largest expense or sales amount, etc.
Syntax
MAXA(value_1, […, value_255])
Inputs
This function accepts the following arguments:
| Name | Required | Description | Valid input |
|---|---|---|---|
value_1 |
Yes | The first value or range to consider. | Numbers, text, logical values, or cell references containing these types of values. |
value_n |
No | Additional values or ranges to consider. | Numbers, text, logical values, or cell references containing these types of values. Up to 254 additional values can be provided. |
Example
Sample data
| A | B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Value | Type | |
2 |
10 | Number | |
3 |
TRUE | Logical | |
4 |
FALSE | Logical | |
5 |
"5" | Text | |
6 |
-3 | Number |
Sample formulas
| Use case | Formula | Explanation and Result |
|---|---|---|
| Find the maximum value in a range that includes text and logical values. | =MAXA(A2:A6) |
Treats TRUE as 1, FALSE as 0, and the text "5" as 0, then finds the largest of the five values. Result: 10 |
| Compare two logical values to find the larger one. | =MAXA(A3, A4) |
Treats TRUE as 1 and FALSE as 0, making TRUE the larger value. Result: 1 |
| Compare a text value that looks numeric against a negative number. | =MAXA(A5, A6) |
Treats the text "5" as 0 (not the number 5), which is still larger than -3. Result: 0 |
| Find the maximum value in a range plus an additional number typed directly into the formula. | =MAXA(A2:A6, 15) |
Adds the literal value 15 to the range from the first example, making it the new largest value. Result: 15 |
| Compare a number, a logical value, and a text value to find the maximum. | =MAXA(1, TRUE, "Hello") |
Treats TRUE as 1 and "Hello" as 0, tying with the literal 1 for the largest value. Result: 1 |
Notes
- MAXA treats TRUE as 1 and FALSE as 0.
- Text and empty cells are treated as 0.
- If the arguments contain no numbers, MAXA returns 0.
- MAXA differs from MAX in that it accepts text and logical values.
- Arguments that are error values or text that cannot be translated into numbers cause errors.
Tips
- Use MAXA when you need to find the largest value in a range that might include text or logical values.
- MAXA is particularly useful when working with data that might contain TRUE/FALSE values or text representations of numbers.
- MAXA treats text as 0, so it may give unexpected results if your data includes text that should be treated as a large value. In this case, use MAX.
- When working only with numbers, the simpler MAX function may be more appropriate.
- MAXA can be combined with other functions such as IF or IFERROR to handle more complex scenarios.