SMALLEST

SMALLEST (LET)

Let Subcommand

Extract the smallest elements of a variable.

This is a generalization of the MINIMUM command. However, instead of returning the single smallest value, it returns the user specified number of smallest values.

The values will be returned in sorted order. If the requested number of smallest values is less than 1, then an error will be returned. If the requested number of smallest values is greater than the number of observations in the response variable, then the full response variable will be returned in sorted order.

LET <y> = SMALLEST <x> <nval>                         <SUBSET/EXCEPT/FOR>
where <x> is a response variable;
            <nval> is a number or parameter that specifies how many values to extract;
            <y> is a variable that contains the smallest values;
and where the <SUBSET/EXCEPT/FOR qualification> is optional.

LET NVAL = 3
LET Y = SMALLEST X NVAL


LET Y = SMALLEST X 3
LET Y = SMALLEST X 5

None

None

LARGEST	=	Return the largest values in a variable.
MAXIMUM	=	Return the maximum value of a variable.
MINIMUM	=	Return the minimum value of a variable.

Data Transformation

2018/10

 
let y = normal random numbers for i = 1 1 100
let nval = 5
let yout = smallest y nval
set write decimals 3
print yout
    

The following output is returned

---------------
           YOUT
---------------
         -2.023
         -1.756
         -1.558
         -1.483
         -1.482