Find the Minimum Value and Return Value From Another Column in Google Sheets

Are you tired of manually searching for the minimum value in a column and then trying to find its corresponding value from another column in Google Sheets? Well, worry no more! In this article, I’m going to share with you a powerful combination of formulas that will make this task a breeze.

Lookup or Find Minimum Value and Return Value From Another Column

Let’s start by understanding the problem at hand. You have a column of numeric data and you want to find the minimum value in that column. Not only that, but you also want to return the corresponding value from another column. Sounds complicated, right? But fear not, I have the solution for you!

The MIN Function

Before we dive into the solution, let’s take a moment to talk about the MIN function. This handy function allows you to find the minimum value in a range of cells. However, it can’t directly return values from adjacent cells. That’s where our combination formula comes into play!

The INDEX-MATCH-MIN Combo

To achieve our desired result, we’ll be using a combination of three powerful functions: INDEX, MATCH, and MIN. This combo formula will help us find the minimum value in Google Sheets and return values from another column. Let me walk you through it.

The syntax of the formula is as follows:

=INDEX(A3:A12, MATCH(MIN(B3:B12), B3:B12, FALSE), 1)

Let’s break it down:

  • INDEX: This function returns the value at a specified row and column in a range. In our case, we’re using it to return the corresponding value from column A.
  • MATCH: This function searches for a specified value in a range and returns its relative position. We’re using it to find the row number of the minimum value in column B.
  • MIN: This function finds the minimum value in a range. It’s the key factor in our combo formula.

With this combination of functions, you can easily find the minimum value and return the corresponding value from another column in Google Sheets. It’s like magic!

Alternative Solutions

If you’re looking for alternative solutions to achieve the same result, here are a few popular options:

  1. XLOOKUP: This function is a game-changer in Google Sheets. It allows you to find the minimum value and return the corresponding value from another column with just one formula! Here’s an example: =XLOOKUP(MIN(B3:B12), B3:B12, A3:A12).
  2. FILTER: If you have multiple minimum values and want to return all of them, the FILTER function is your best friend. It filters the values in one range based on a condition from another range. For example: =FILTER(A3:A12, B3:B12 = MIN(B3:B12)).
  3. Reverse VLOOKUP: If you’re familiar with the VLOOKUP function, you might be tempted to use it in reverse to solve this problem. Although it’s possible, the INDEX-MATCH-MIN combo formula is a more straightforward and efficient solution.

And there you have it! Now you know how to find the minimum value and return the corresponding value from another column in Google Sheets. Say goodbye to tedious manual searches and let the formulas do the work for you!

For more tips and tricks on using Google Sheets, visit Crawlan.com. Happy spreadsheeting!

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