SQL: Structured Query Language - Oracle 10g Database Administration Concepts and Implementation Made Simple - page 37

Using the COUNT function you can count of number of records
in the table.
Example:
SELECT MAX(sal) "Maximum"
FROM emp;
Output:
Maximum
----------
5000
Using the MAX function we can get the maximum value within
that column/field. On the same line we can find out minimum
value using the MIN group function.
Example:
SELECT SUM(sal) "Total"
FROM emp;
Output:
Total
----------
29081