What type of information can you extract using date functions in Excel?

Using date functions in Excel allows you to perform specific operations related to date values, and one of the primary capabilities is to determine the earliest and latest dates within a dataset. Functions like MIN and MAX can be applied to a range of date values, providing insights into the span of time represented in that dataset. For example, by applying the MIN function, you can quickly identify the earliest date, and the MAX function will reveal the latest date. This functionality is essential for data analysis in scenarios like project timelines, sales data over specific periods, or any data requiring temporal context.

The other options pertain to different functionalities: calculating an average requires numerical data manipulation that is distinct from date functions, extracting text relates to string functions rather than date functions, and formatting styles deal with the visual presentation of data rather than extracting specific information based on date criteria.