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This article describes the formula syntax and usage of the MAXA function in Microsoft Excel.

Description

Returns the largest value in a list of arguments.

MAXA is similar to MINA. For more information, see the examples for the MINA function.

Syntax

MAXA(value1,[value2],...)

The MAXA function syntax has the following arguments:

  • Value1     Required. The first number argument for which you want to find the largest value.

  • Value2,...     Optional. Number arguments 2 to 255 for which you want to find the largest value.

Remarks

  • Arguments can be the following: numbers; names, arrays, or references that contain numbers; text representations of numbers; or logical values, such as TRUE and FALSE, in a reference.

  • Logical values and text representations of numbers that you type directly into the list of arguments are counted.

  • If an argument is an array or reference, only values in that array or reference are used. Empty cells and text values in the array or reference are ignored.

  • Arguments that are error values or text that cannot be translated into numbers cause errors.

  • Arguments that contain TRUE evaluate as 1; arguments that contain text or FALSE evaluate as 0 (zero).

  • If the arguments contain no values, MAXA returns 0 (zero).

  • If you do not want to include logical values and text representations of numbers in a reference as part of the calculation, use the MAX function.

Example

Copy the example data in the following table, and paste it in cell A1 of a new Excel worksheet. For formulas to show results, select them, press F2, and then press Enter. If you need to, you can adjust the column widths to see all the data.

Data

0

0.2

0.5

0.4

TRUE

Formula

Description

Result

=MAXA(A2:A6)

The largest number in the range A2:A6. Because a TRUE value evaluates to 1, it is the largest.

1

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