When working with data, there are often times when you will need to find the highest number in a series. This is especially true when working with huge datasets. Trying to do this by hand when you have thousands or perhaps millions of numbers to sift through can be time-consuming, and the potential for mistakes goes up the more numbers you add to your dataset.

In the Python library Pandas (stylized as pandas), you can make this process easier by relying on the MAX function. The MAX function in pandas surfaces the maximum value in a series of number data. A simple bit of code can be used to call this function, but some knowledge of Python coding is required to do this.

How Can the MAX Function Be Used?

You can use the MAX function in pandas to filter a dataset for several reasons. For example, if you were looking for outliers or anomalies in a dataset, the MAX function could show where peak values occurred. This can highlight events that caused data to become severely skewed, allowing data scientists to track down the source. If you are trying to clean data, the MAX function can be incredibly useful.

You may also use the MAX function to detect or establish a threshold. When you’re able to easily call out the maximum value in a dataset, you can use the result to establish a peak level. When designing a product that requires a user to stay within limits, data taken from testing can establish these limits through the MAX function.

Using the MAX Function to Validate Data

The MAX function can also validate data without the need to manually review every item. For example, if you were validating expense reports from your staff to ensure that no amount exceeded a pre-set limit, the MAX function could help.

Since this function establishes the maximum value in a dataset, it can show the highest total spent on each expense report without the need to review every line. From there, additional code could be used to establish whether an expense matches an approved supplier or vendor.

Author Resource:-

Emily Clarke writes about business software and services like spreadsheets that automatically generate Python code and transform your data with AI etc. You can find her thoughts at Python spreadsheet blog.