COUNT function

[trip_to_tokyo]

The following example is from Microsoft documentation.

Enter the following information in the quoted cells.

A2 Sales
A3 12/08/2008
A4
A5 19
A6 22.24
A7 TRUE
A8 #DIV/0!

Cell A4 is blank (contains nothing / no value).

In cell A12 (can be any cell) enter the following formula:-

=COUNT(A2:A8,2)

The above formula returns 4.

Why does it return 4?

According the Microsoft documentation:-

Counts the number of cells that contain numbers in the list, and the value 2
(4)

I reckon the answer should be (interpreting MS dcoumentation literally) 5
broken down as follows:-

A3 is 1.
A5 is 1.
A6 is 1.
A3 contains a 2 therefore count 1.
A6 contains a 2 therefore count 1.

I make that a total of 5.

Why then does the formula return 4?

Thanks for any help.

Steve

 

[Jacob Skaria]

COUNT() counts the number of cells that contain numbers.
Here A3,A5,A6 and the number you have added to the formula ie 2 is counted.

What you are looking for is COUNTIF() .
=COUNTIF(A2:A8,2) returns the number of cells with ** cell value *** 2. 12
or 23 will not be counted..

If this post helps click Yes

 

[Jacob Skaria]

May be to avoid confusion you can try which will count the numbers in A2:A8
and the 3 numbers specified in the formula .Also refer the help on COUNTIF()

=COUNT(A2:A8,2,3,4)