What is the MAX function primarily used for?

The MAX function is specifically designed to evaluate a set of numerical values and return the largest number from that set. By using the MAX function, users can efficiently determine the highest value within a specified range of cells, which is particularly useful for data analysis tasks like identifying maximum sales figures, tracking performance metrics, or analyzing scores in a dataset.

This function operates by scanning through the selected range and comparing each number to find the one with the highest value, simplifying the process of data evaluation in spreadsheets. Therefore, when needing to understand or report on maxima in datasets, the MAX function is the ideal tool to utilize.