formula to look up and return smallest date from a range of dates

[Guest]

I need a formula that will look up the smallest date, and return it, from a
range of mixed dates.

 

[Don Guillett]

have a look in help index for MIN

 

[Ron de Bruin]

Hi BJ

Dates are numbers so you can use this function
=SMALL(A1:A100,1)

 

[Roger Govier]

Hi

Assuming they are all valid Excel dates and not text representations of the
date then
=MIN(A1:A100)

Regards

Roger Govier

 

[Biff]

Hi!

I need a formula that will look up the smallest date

What's a "small" date? <g>

Do you mean the oldest date?

=MIN(A1:A10)

Biff

 

[Gord Dibben]

BJ

Excel stores dates as a number starting with 1 at Jan 1, 1900 so I guess that
would be the "smallest date" you could get.

With column A being dates, enter this formula in any cell in an adjacent
column.

=MIN(A:A) and Format as date.


Gord Dibben Excel MVP