If you want Math.min() to process an array of values, you have to use .apply():

var lowestTime = Math.min.apply(Math, times);

You could also use the new-ish spread syntax:

var lowestTime = Math.min(... times);

but that doesn't work in all environments.

When you pass the array directly, the first thing Math.min() does is try to convert it to a number because that's what it expects: individual numbers. When that happens, through a round-about process the resulting value will be NaN.

The Math.min() function actually expects a series of numbers, but it doesn't know how to handle an actual array, so it is blowing up.

You can resolve this by using the spread operator ...:

var int_array = [1,2];
console.log(Math.min(...int_array)); // returns 1

You could also accomplish this via the Function.apply() function that would essentially do the same thing but isn't as pretty :

var int_array = [1,2];
console.log(Math.min.apply(null,int_array)); // returns 1

According to MDN Math.min accepts only numbers, and if one of the arguments is not a number, it'll return NaN.

That's not what it says (bold emphasis mine):

If at least one of arguments cannot be converted to a number, the result is NaN.

Type Conversion:

• Math.min uses ToNumber to convert its arguments.
• ToNumber uses ToPrimitive to convert Objects (and Arrays are Objects).
• ToPrimitive uses toString
• [5].toString() is '5', which gets returned to ToPrimitive, which returns it to ToNumber, which parses it to 5 and returns it to Math.min, for which it is a valid argument, because it is not NaN.
• [1, 2].toString(), OTOH, is '1, 2', which gets returned to ToPrimitive, which returns it to ToNumber, which parses it to NaN, because it is not a valid number representation. ToNumber then passes NaN to Math.min, which will then return NaN, because (as MDN states it) "one of its arguments cannot be converted to a number" or (as the spec states it) "If any value is NaN, the result is NaN.".

Math.min() requires the arguments to be numbers. It will convert strings to numbers, but each value needs to be in a separate argument -- it won't convert a comma-delimited string to multiple numbers.

Don't use a string for result, use an array. Then you can spread the array into function arguments.

function calculate() {
  var array1 = [1, 1, 1];
  var array2 = [
    [2, 2, 2],
    [3, 3, 3],
    [4, 4, 4]
  ];
  var i = 0;
  var result = [];
  for (; i < array2.length; i++) {
    result.push(Math.sqrt(Math.pow((array1[0] - array2[i][0]), 2) + Math.pow((array1[1] - array2[i][1]), 2) + Math.pow((array1[2] - array2[i][2]), 2)));
  };
  console.log(result);
  console.log(Math.min(1.7320508075688772, 3.4641016151377544, 5.196152422706632, ));
  var minResult = Math.min(...result);
  console.log(minResult);

}

<button onclick="calculate()">Click me</button>

Filter out the NaN entries:

var smallest = Math.min.apply(null, arrayOfNumbers.filter(function(n) { return !isNaN(n); }));

I assume the undefined is actually some variable.

You can substitute -Infinity for any NaN value to ensure a number.

var foo;

Math.max(5, 10, isNaN(foo) ? -Infinity : foo); // returns 10

Same concept can be used on Math.min, but with Infinity:

var foo;

Math.min(5, 10, isNaN(foo) ? Infinity : foo); // returns 5

Math.min or Math.max do not expect array but distinct numbers. Please try this:

var min = Math.min(...runTimes);
var max = Math.max(...runTimes);

It seems when you are creating the array, you are creating keys like '01', '02' etc

these are different to index 1 and 2

See the following

const array1 = new Array();
const array2 = new Array();
const array3 = new Array();
array1[0] = 1;
array2['00'] = 2
array3[0] = 3
array3['00'] = 4

console.log(JSON.stringify(array1), typeof array1[0]);
console.log(JSON.stringify(array2), typeof array2[0]);
console.log(JSON.stringify(array3), typeof array3[0]);

see how array2[0] is undefined ... now if you do

const array = new Array();
array['00'] = 10;
array['01'] = 9;
array['02'] = 8;
array['03'] = 7;
array['04'] = 6;
array['05'] = 5;
array['06'] = 4;
array['07'] = 3;
array['08'] = 2;
array['09'] = 1;
array['10'] = 100;
console.log(array);

look at all those undefined before index 10

that's why Math.min results in NaN

You will have to use apply to be able to use Math.min() in connection with an array. In its native form it expects individual arguments.

See here: Math.min.apply(0, array) - why?

The reason why your code doesn't work is because Math.max is expecting each parameter to be a valid number. This is indicated in the documentation as follows:

If at least one of arguments cannot be converted to a number, the result is NaN.

In your instance you are only providing 1 argument, and that 1 value is an array not a number (it doesn't go as far as checking what is in an array, it just stops at knowing it isn't a valid number).

One possible solution is to explicitly call the function by passing an array of arguments. Like so:

Math.max.apply(Math, data);

What this effectively does is the same as if you manually specified each argument without an array:

Math.max(4, 2, 6, 1, 3, 7, 5, 3);

And as you can see, each argument is now a valid number, so it will work as expected.

Spreading an array

You can also spread the array. This essentially treats the array as if each item is being passed as it's own argument.

Math.max(...data);