Which function is used to find the minimum value in a specified range?

The function that is used to find the minimum value in a specified range is the MIN function. When you use =MIN(cell1:cell2), it scans through all the values between the specified cells and returns the smallest number. This is particularly useful in data analysis, as it allows you to easily identify the lowest value in a dataset without having to sort or visually check the numbers.

The other functions serve different purposes: the MAX function identifies the maximum value in a range, the AVERAGE function calculates the mean of the numbers within the specified range, and the SUM function adds all the numbers together. Each of these functions is valuable in their own right but is used for different analyses. Understanding the specific purpose of the MIN function is essential when you need to evaluate datasets for their lowest values.