Google Data Analytics Professional Certification Practice Test

What does the COUNTIF function do in a spreadsheet?

1. Counts all cells in a range

2. Counts the number of cells that are blank

3. Counts cells that meet a specified condition

4. Counts unique values in a range

The correct answer is: Counts cells that meet a specified condition

The COUNTIF function in a spreadsheet is specifically designed to count the number of cells within a designated range that meet a certain criterion or condition. This function is immensely useful when you want to quantify how many entries fit a particular requirement, such as counting the number of sales above a certain value, the number of responses containing a specific keyword, or any scenario where a condition needs to be evaluated. For example, if you want to count how many sales transactions exceed $100 in a range of sales data, you would use the COUNTIF function by referencing that specific range and setting the condition of being greater than $100. This targeted counting capability makes the COUNTIF function an essential tool for data analysis within spreadsheets, allowing analysts to derive insights efficiently from their datasets. In contrast, the other choices focus on different counting methods that do not align with the specific functionality of COUNTIF. Counting all cells encompasses everything in a range without conditions, counting blank cells only assesses empty entries, and counting unique values pertains to distinct entries rather than those meeting a specified criterion.