| Using The COUNT Functions in Microsoft Excel 2007 |
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| Computers - Computers |
| Written by Andrew Whiteman |
| Tuesday, 10 March 2009 09:11 |
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Excel boasts a huge range of functions which are conveniently arranged into categories. The COUNT function is found under the statistical category. There are actually five COUNT functions; COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK, COUNTIF and COUNTIFS. We will look at COUNTIF and COUNTIFS in another article. In this article, we will examine COUNT, COUNTA and COUNTBLANK.
Excel boasts a huge range of functions which are conveniently arranged into categories. The COUNT function is found under the statistical category. There are actually five COUNT functions; COUNT, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK, COUNTIF and COUNTIFS. We will look at COUNTIF and COUNTIFS in another article. In this article, we will examine COUNT, COUNTA and COUNTBLANK. The COUNT function is used to return the number of cells within a given range or series of ranges which contain numbers. The COUNTA function simply counts the cells which aren't blank; while the COUNTBLANK function does the reverse; it counts the cells in a range which are black. Suppose we have a spreadsheet containing the scores achieved by students in a variety of subjects. Let's say that, for each student, we can input one of three entries under each subject: firstly, a figure representing the score achieved; secondly, the letter "X" indicating a subject they were scheduled to take but missed; and, thirdly, the cell can be left blank, indicating a subject that they were never scheduled to take. In order to count the number of exams each student took, we would use the COUNT function. To count the number of exams each student was scheduled to take, we would use COUNTA. Finally, to calculate the number of exams they were not scheduled to take, we would use COUNTBLANK. To create the formula for calculating the number of exams taken by a student, we can click in the appropriate call and click the Insert Function button on the left of the formula bar. Next, we can highlight the statistical function category and scroll down to "COUNT". As always Excel provides a tool-tip telling us what this function does: it "counts the number of cells in a range that contain numbers". When we click OK, the Function Wizard pops up and we are prompted to specify the parameters required by this function. It is almost always the case that these parameters consist of cell references. We can simply drag across the cells that we want to count and Excel will generate our reference for us. We can then click the OK button and Excel Will return the correct value. Next, we would repeat the same procedure to create a formula containing the COUNTA function and another for containing COUNTBLANK. Finally, we would copy the formula down by highlighting the cells containing the original formulas and dragging the AutoFill handle down. About the Author: Author is a developer and trainer with Macresource Computer Solutions, an independent computer training company offering Microsoft Excel 2007 Classes in London and throughout the UK. |