max
Units & Measurements abbreviation · Math
| Stands for | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Categories | Units & Measurements |
| Also written | max. |
max stands for Maximum, a math abbreviation also used in general use.
The largest value in a set or attained by a function, written max{3, 7, 5} = 7 or max f(x). In spreadsheets and programming, MAX() returns the largest of its arguments.
Example: Excel's =MAX(B2:B31) returns the highest daily temperature in March.
Usage notes
Optimization problems ask for maxima or minima; argmax gives the input that achieves the maximum rather than the value itself. A continuous function on a closed, bounded interval always attains a maximum, the extreme value theorem. Calculus distinguishes local maxima from the global maximum.