Locating min/max number of x adjacent cells

I am trying to find the min/max number in an x number of adjacent cells. For instance in the following data set:

7/15/2005 10
7/16/2005 9
7/17/2005 8
7/18/2005 8
7/19/2005 7 Less than any of the 4 days before/after
7/20/2005 9
7/21/2005 10
7/22/2005 11
7/23/2005 15
7/24/2005 9 Less than any of the 1 days before/after
7/25/2005 10
7/26/2005 8
7/27/2005 10
7/28/2005 6
7/29/2005 2 Less than any of the 3 days before/after
7/30/2005 3
7/31/2005 4
8/1/2005 5


If I were looking for 2 day mins, it would return the dates 7/29/2005, 7/19/2005. It is important that the value is the lowest number at least x days before and after, though it could be more. In the example above, the value in 7/19/2005 is smaller than any number 4 days before and after. Eventually, I would also like this function to only return the most recent occurance. I would also like to have "x" be a reference, so I can change it on the fly. It will also be necessary for me to limit the search to a date range, but I may be able to work these details out later. A cell formula (or two) would work best for me, because it may need to be minipulated a bit before I get it exactly right for my situation. If it can only be done with VBA let me know. If you can help me with any or all of this I would appreciate it. Either way, I (we?) need to figure this out. Thanks,
Paul

please. help.

Hi Paul! If your column of numbers is in Column B, I entered this test
equation in cell C5.
It is looking at the cell to its left (B5).
Suppose "n" refers to a cell with a value of 3 (3 days +- the reference
value)
Offset is used to set a new reference, and Min looks for the minimum in the
range.
If the Cell to the left is that minimum, then column C has an "X".
Is this something that would work?

=IF(MIN(OFFSET(B5,-n,0,2*n+1))=B5,"X","")

HTH :>)
--
Dana DeLouis
Win XP & Office 2003


"Paul987" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email protected]...
>
> I am trying to find the min/max number in an x number of adjacent cells.
> For instance in the following data set:
>
> 7/15/2005 10
> 7/16/2005 9
> 7/17/2005 8
> 7/18/2005 8
> 7/19/2005 7 Less than any of the 4 days before/after
> 7/20/2005 9
> 7/21/2005 10
> 7/22/2005 11
> 7/23/2005 15
> 7/24/2005 9 Less than any of the 1 days before/after
> 7/25/2005 10
> 7/26/2005 8
> 7/27/2005 10
> 7/28/2005 6
> 7/29/2005 2 Less than any of the 3 days before/after
> 7/30/2005 3
> 7/31/2005 4
> 8/1/2005 5
>
>
> If I were looking for 2 day mins, it would return the dates 7/29/2005,
> 7/19/2005. It is important that the value is the lowest number at least
> x days before and after, though it could be more. In the example above,
> the value in 7/19/2005 is smaller than any number 4 days before and
> after. Eventually, I would also like this function to only return the
> most recent occurance. I would also like to have "x" be a reference, so
> I can change it on the fly. It will also be necessary for me to limit
> the search to a date range, but I may be able to work these details out
> later. A cell formula (or two) would work best for me, because it may
> need to be minipulated a bit before I get it exactly right for my
> situation. If it can only be done with VBA let me know. If you can help
> me with any or all of this I would appreciate it. Either way, I (we?)
> need to figure this out. Thanks,
> Paul
>
>
> --
> Paul987
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Paul987's Profile:
> http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=24850
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=387513
>

Dana -

Thanks for the help. I think that solution will work. One further question:

Would it be possible to restrict the formula to one cell, and just have it return the most recent x day min? My spreadsheet is getting extremely complicated, and I want to avoid having to change references in macros already written. Thanks again.

-Paul