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 |
|---|---|
| Value | Type |
| 10 | Number |
| TRUE | Logical |
| FALSE | Logical |
| "5" | Text |
| -3 | Number |
Sample formulas
| Formula | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
=MAXA(A2:A6) |
Returns the maximum value in the range A2:A6 | 10 |
=MAXA(A3, A4) |
Compares TRUE and FALSE | 1 |
=MAXA(A5, A6) |
Compares text "5" and number -3 | 0 |
=MAXA(A2:A6, 15) |
Finds max between range A2:A6 and number 15 | 15 |
=MAXA(1, TRUE, "Hello") |
Compares number, logical, and text | 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.
Related functions
AVERAGE
AVERAGEA
AVERAGEIF
AVERAGEIFS
LARGE
MAX
MAXA
MAXIFS
MEDIAN
MIN
MINA
MINIFS
PERCENTILE
PERCENTILE.EXC
PERCENTILE.INC
QUARTILE
QUARTILE.EXC
QUARTILE.INC
RANK
RANK.AVG
RANK.EQ
SMALL
STDEV
STDEV.P
STDEV.S
STDEVA
STDEVPA