Description
Use this function to return the smallest value in a list of arguments, including numbers, text, and logical values. Supported in Chains. Can be used with CHILDREFS.
MINA is useful when you need to find the minimum value in a dataset that includes non-numeric entries. It differs from the MIN function in how it handles text and logical values.
Syntax
MINA(value1, […, value_254)
Inputs
This function accepts the following arguments:
| Name | Required | Description | Valid input |
|---|---|---|---|
value_1 |
Yes | The first number, cell reference, or range for which you want to find the minimum value. | A number, a text string, a cell reference, a cell range, logical values (TRUE/FALSE), or a formula which results in any of these. |
value_n |
No | Additional numbers, cell references, or ranges. | Same as value_1. Up to 254 additional values can be provided. |
Example
Sample data
| A | B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Value | Type | |
2 |
5 | Number | |
3 |
-3 | Number | |
4 |
Text | Text | |
5 |
TRUE | Logical | |
6 |
FALSE | Logical | |
7 |
2.5 | Number |
Sample formulas
| Use case | Formula | Explanation and Result |
|---|---|---|
| Find the minimum value in a range that includes text and logical values. | =MINA(A2:A7) |
Treats "Text" as 0, TRUE as 1, and FALSE as 0, then finds the smallest value among all six entries. Result: -3 |
| Find the minimum value among values typed directly into the formula, including text and logical values. | =MINA(5, -3, "Text", TRUE, FALSE, 2.5) |
Same calculation as above, but with the values entered literally instead of pulled from a range. Result: -3 |
| Find the minimum value among only the text and logical entries in a range. | =MINA(A4:A6) |
Treats "Text" and FALSE as 0 and TRUE as 1, so the smallest of the three is 0. Result: 0 |
| Compare a number, a number stored as text, and a logical value to find the minimum. | =MINA(10, "20", TRUE) |
Treats "20" as 0 (since MINA converts any text to 0, even text that looks numeric) and TRUE as 1, making 0 the smallest of the three. Result: 0 |
| Find the minimum value in a range plus an additional value typed directly into the formula. | =MINA(A2:A7, -10) |
Adds the literal value -10 to the range from the first example, making it the new smallest value. Result: -10 |
Notes
- MINA treats non-numeric values and FALSE as 0, which can lead to unexpected results if not considered.
- MINA treats TRUE as 1, which means it will never be the minimum value unless all other values are greater than 1.
- MINA ignores empty cells and error values; these are ignored and not counted in the calculation.
- If the arguments contain no numbers, text, or logical values, MINA returns 0.
- MINA is limited to 255 arguments. For larger datasets, consider using formulas or helper columns.
Tips
- Use MINA when you need to find the minimum value in a dataset that includes text or logical values.
- Remember that MINA treats text data as 0, which may not always be appropriate for your analysis.
- If you only want to consider numeric values, use MIN instead.
- Combine MINA with other functions such as MAXA for a comprehensive analysis of mixed data types.
- When working with dates, remember that dates are stored as numbers in Workiva, so MINA can find the earliest date in a range.