Math.max and Math.min Examples

Math.max

The general syntax for this method is:

Math.max(x, y, z, ...)

This method finds and returns the largest value from a set of numbers (x, y, z, ...).

To find the maximum value in an array, see below.

Example

console.log(Math.max(2, 3, 100.01, 0, -5.2, 100));

Console Output

100.01

Math.min

The general syntax for this method is:

Math.min(x, y, z, ...)

This method finds and returns the smallest value from a set of numbers (x, y, z,...).

To find the minimum value in an array, see below.

Example

console.log(Math.min(2, 3, 100.01, 0, -5.2, 100));

Console Output

-5.2

Max and Min of an Array

Unfortunately, the max and min methods will NOT take an array of numbers as an argument. There are numerous workarounds. Here are TWO possible solutions.

Sort First

This approach uses the syntax from the sorting studio to first order the array. The maximum (or minimum) value can then be identified with bracket notation.

Examples

let numbers = [-2, 3.33, -4.44, 8.88];

let sortedArray = numbers.sort(function(a, b){return a-b});

console.log(sortedArray);
console.log(`Min = ${sortedArray[0]}, Max = ${sortedArray[sortedArray.length-1]}`);

Console Output

[ -4.44, -2, 3.33, 8.88 ]
Min = -4.44, Max = 8.88

Alternatively, we could put the array in decreasing order:

let numbers = [-2, 3.33, -4.44, 8.88];

let sortedArray = numbers.sort(function(a, b){return b-a});

console.log(sortedArray);
console.log(`Max = ${sortedArray[0]}, Min = ${sortedArray[sortedArray.length-1]}`);

Console Output

[ 8.88, 3.33, -2, -4.44 ]
Max = 8.88, Min = -4.44

Using Spread Syntax

An alternative to the sorting approach described above is to use the spread operator (...), also called spread syntax.

In cases where a set of numbers or strings (x, y, z, etc.) is expected, an array cannot be used as-is. The spread operator expands an array into a comma-separated set of elements, which can be passed as arguments in a function call. functionName(...[x,y,z]) is identical to functionName(x,y,z).

Example

let numbers = [2, 3, 100.01, 0, -5.2, 100];

let max = Math.max(...numbers);
let min = Math.min(...numbers);

console.log(...numbers);
console.log(`Min = ${min}, Max = ${max}`);

Console Output

2 3 100.01 0 -5.2 100
Min = -5.2, Max = 100.01

Note the absence of brackets, [], around the numbers printed by line 6. console.log(...numbers) executes as console.log(2, 3, 100.01, 0, -5.2, 100), so the output is NOT an array.

Note

The sorting approach works in all browsers. The spread operator, while very convenient, is NOT compatible with Internet Explorer or older versions of other browsers (pre-2015). For more details on the spread operator and its compatibility, check the MDN Web Docs.