WOLFRAM

Min[x1,x2,]

yields the numerically smallest of the xi.

Min[{x1,x2,},{y1,},]

yields the smallest element of any of the lists.

Details

Examples

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Basic Examples  (3)Summary of the most common use cases

Minimum of two numbers:

Out[1]=1

Minimum of a list:

Out[1]=1

Plot over a subset of the reals:

Out[1]=1

Scope  (29)Survey of the scope of standard use cases

Numerical Evaluation  (7)

Evaluate numerically:

Out[1]=1

Evaluate to high precision:

Out[1]=1

The precision of the output tracks the precision of the input:

Out[2]=2

Evaluate efficiently at high precision:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

The minimum of all elements of a matrix:

Out[2]=2

The minima of all rows:

Out[3]=3

The minima of all columns:

Out[4]=4

For Interval objects, Min gives the minimum element in all intervals:

Out[1]=1

For CenteredInterval objects, Min[Δ1,Δ2] gives an interval containing Min[a1,a2] for any aiΔi:

Out[2]=2

Compute average-case statistical intervals using Around:

Out[1]=1

Compute the elementwise values of an array using automatic threading:

Out[1]=1

Or compute the matrix Min function using MatrixFunction:

Out[2]=2

Specific Values  (5)

Values of Min at fixed points:

Out[2]=2

Values at infinity:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

Evaluate symbolically:

Out[1]=1

Solve equations and inequalities:

Out[1]=1

Find a value of x for which Min[{Sin[x],Cos[x]}]1/2:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

Visualization  (3)

Plot the Min of several functions:

Out[1]=1

Plot Min in three dimensions:

Out[1]=1

Plot Min of three functions in three dimensions:

Out[1]=1

Function Properties  (9)

Min is only defined for real-valued inputs:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

The range of Min is all real numbers:

Out[1]=1

Min effectively flattens out all lists:

Out[1]=1

Basic symbolic simplification is done automatically:

Out[1]=1

Additional simplification can be done using Simplify:

Out[1]=1

Multi-argument Min is generally not an analytic function:

Out[1]=1

It will have singularities where the arguments cross, but it will be continuous:

Out[2]=2
Out[3]=3

Min can have any monotonicity depending on its arguments:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2
Out[3]=3

is not surjective:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

Min can have any sign depending on its arguments:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2
Out[3]=3

Differentiation and Integration  (5)

First derivative with respect to x:

Out[1]=1

Higher derivatives with respect to x:

Out[1]=1

Formula for the ^(th) derivative with respect to x:

Out[1]=1

Compute the indefinite integral using Integrate:

Out[1]=1

Verify the anti-derivative:

Out[2]=2

Definite integrals:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2
Out[3]=3

Applications  (4)Sample problems that can be solved with this function

Use in bounds of iterator variables:

Out[1]=1

Cumulative minima:

Out[2]=2

Find the lowest point of a plotted curve:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

Mean of the length ratio of a randomly broken stick:

Out[1]=1

Rfunction-based solid modeling:

Out[1]=1

Properties & Relations  (6)Properties of the function, and connections to other functions

With no arguments, Min returns Infinity:

Out[1]=1

Min is Flat and Orderless:

Out[1]=1

Use PiecewiseExpand to express Min and Max as explicit cases:

Out[1]=1

Use FullSimplify to simplify Min expressions:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

Minimize a function containing Min:

Out[1]=1

Min can be differentiated:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

Possible Issues  (2)Common pitfalls and unexpected behavior

Min flattens lists, rather than being Listable:

Out[1]=1

Oneargument form evaluates for any argument:

Out[1]=1

Neat Examples  (2)Surprising or curious use cases

Two-dimensional sublevel sets:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2

Three-dimensional sublevel sets:

Out[1]=1
Out[2]=2
Wolfram Research (1988), Min, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html (updated 2021).
Wolfram Research (1988), Min, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html (updated 2021).

Text

Wolfram Research (1988), Min, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html (updated 2021).

Wolfram Research (1988), Min, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html (updated 2021).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1988. "Min." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2021. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html.

Wolfram Language. 1988. "Min." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2021. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1988). Min. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html

Wolfram Language. (1988). Min. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_min, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Min}", year="2021", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html}", note=[Accessed: 26-March-2025 ]}

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_min, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Min}", year="2021", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html}", note=[Accessed: 26-March-2025 ]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_min, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Min}, year={2021}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html}, note=[Accessed: 26-March-2025 ]}

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_min, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Min}, year={2021}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Min.html}, note=[Accessed: 26-March-2025 ]}