Check Sheet Logo
Check Sheet

REDUCE

The REDUCE formula is used to apply a function to each element of an array, resulting in a single output value. The function specified in LAMBDA is applied to the elements of the array in turn, and the final result is obtained by accumulating these element-wise results. This formula is often used to sum or multiply the elements of an array.

Usage

Use the REDUCE formula with the syntax shown below, it has 3 required parameters:

=REDUCE(initial_value, array_or_range, LAMBDA)
Parameters:
  1. initial_value (required):
    The initial value for the reduction operation. This value is used as the accumulator for the first element in the array.
  2. array_or_range (required):
    The array or range of cells to be reduced. If a range is provided, the cells are read from left to right and top to bottom.
  3. LAMBDA (required):
    A function that takes two arguments: the current accumulator value and the current element of the array. The function should return the new accumulator value.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the REDUCE formula in Google Sheets.

Sum a range of cells

To sum a range of cells, use the REDUCE formula with an initial value of zero and a LAMBDA function that adds the current element to the accumulator.

Multiply a range of cells

To multiply a range of cells, use the REDUCE formula with an initial value of one and a LAMBDA function that multiplies the current element by the accumulator.

Find the maximum value in a range

To find the maximum value in a range, use the REDUCE formula with an initial value of MIN_VALUE and a LAMBDA function that returns the greater of the current element and the accumulator.

Common Mistakes

REDUCE not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the REDUCE Google Sheets Formula:

Providing a non-array or non-range input

REDUCE requires an array or range as its second argument. Providing a non-array or non-range input will result in an error.

Not providing a lambda function

REDUCE requires a lambda function as its third argument. Not providing a lambda function will result in an error.

Providing a lambda function with the wrong number of arguments

The lambda function provided to REDUCE must take two arguments. Providing a lambda function with the wrong number of arguments will result in an error.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to REDUCE or are often used with it in a formula:

  • SUM

    The SUM function in Google Sheets adds up a range of numbers. This function is most commonly used to sum the values in a range of cells.

  • PRODUCT

    The PRODUCT formula in Google Sheets multiplies all the numbers given in the arguments and returns the product. It is commonly used to calculate the total product of a range of cells.

  • MAX

    The MAX function returns the maximum value from a range of cells or a set of supplied values. It is commonly used to find the largest value in a dataset.

  • MIN

    The MIN formula is a statistical function that returns the smallest value in a set of numbers. It is commonly used to find the minimum value from a range of cells or a list of values.

  • FILTER

    The FILTER formula in Google Sheets is used to filter a range of data based on specified conditions. It returns a new range that only includes the rows that meet the specified conditions. This formula is commonly used to extract specific data from a larger dataset.

Learn More

You can learn more about the REDUCE Google Sheets function on Google Support.