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How To Find Minimum Value In Excel With Conditional Formatting

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Discovering the minimum value in a dataset can provide crucial insights, and Excel offers tools like conditional formatting to assist with this task. This process involves setting rules that highlight the smallest number in your data, making it stand out for quick analysis.

However, this method can be complex, especially for those new to Excel's advanced features. In the following sections, we'll detail the steps to find the minimum value using Excel's conditional formatting and also explore why using Sourcetable might offer a simpler alternative.

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Finding Minimum Value with Conditional Formatting in Excel

Step-by-Step Guide

To highlight the lowest sale price in each row using conditional formatting in Excel, follow these steps:

Setting Up Conditional Formatting

Begin by selecting the range of sale prices starting from row 2. This typically includes columns B, D, F, H, J, and L. With the range selected, navigate to the 'Home' tab and click on 'Conditional Formatting'.

Creating a Custom Formula

Choose 'New Rule' and then select 'Use a formula to determine which cells to format'. Enter the formula to find the minimum value across the selected sale price cells in each row. For example, use =B2=MIN($B2,$D2,$F2,$H2,$J2,$L2) if row 2 is the first row with data.

Applying Format and Rules

After inputting the formula, set the formatting options such as fill color or text color to highlight the lowest value. Click 'OK' to apply the rule. Ensure that this rule is applied to all relevant rows from 2 downwards.

Verifying the Results

Check that the lowest sale price in each row is highlighted correctly. If necessary, adjust the applied range or the formula to correct any discrepancies. Save your work to preserve the conditional formatting settings.

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Common Use Cases

  • excel

    Identifying the lowest sales figure in a monthly sales report

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    Highlighting the minimum score in a class to address student needs

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    Finding the cheapest product price in a comparative pricing list

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    Pinpointing the least utilized resource in a resource allocation spreadsheet

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    Detecting the shortest task completion time in a project timeline

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Excel vs Sourcetable: A Comparative Analysis

Discover the versatility of Sourcetable, a modern spreadsheet solution designed to streamline data integration. Unlike traditional Excel, Sourcetable effortlessly aggregates data from various sources into a single, coherent workspace.

Excel's manual data entry is eclipsed by Sourcetable's automated data collection, offering efficiency and accuracy for data-driven decision-making. Sourcetable simplifies complex data analysis with its intuitive, spreadsheet-like interface.

Experience the innovation of Sourcetable's AI copilot, a feature absent in Excel. This AI assistant transforms formula creation and template design into an interactive, user-friendly conversation, enhancing productivity.

While Excel relies on user expertise for formulas and functions, Sourcetable democratizes data manipulation with AI-powered guidance, making advanced analytics accessible to all proficiency levels.



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