What function would you use to find the smallest number in a range in Excel?

To find the smallest number in a range of values in Excel, using the MIN function is the appropriate choice. The MIN function specifically identifies and returns the lowest value from a selected range of numbers. This function is particularly useful in scenarios where it is essential to analyze data to determine minimum values, such as identifying the smallest expense in a budget, the least performance in a set of test scores, or any other situation where understanding the minimum is vital.

The other functions listed serve different purposes: SUM adds together all the numbers in a given range, MAX returns the largest number, and AVERAGE computes the mean of the numbers. Each of these functions has its specific application, but for the requirement to find the smallest number, the MIN function is unequivocally the correct option.