Please help me decipher the result of COUNT.

[Epinn]

Following data from A1:A7

Sales
12/8/2008

19
22.24
TRUE
#DIV/0!


=COUNT(A1:A7,2) returns 4.

I don't understand where the four occurrences of 2 come from.

22.24 = 3 occurrences
12/8/2008 = 2 occurrences
total of 5??

I know I am missing something. Please tell me.

Is there a tool that I can use to trace? I tried the formula auditing
toolbar, no luck because there is no error and trace precedents is not
detailed enough.

Appreciate explanation.

Epinn

 

[Don Guillett]

have a look in the help index for COUNT

 

[Sandy Mann]

As Don said check COUNT() in the Help, COUNT() does not work the way you are
thinking it does. The four numbers that you are counting are:

The date (which is either 39672 or 39790 depending on whether it is an
American style or British style date)
19
22.24
and the 2 in your formula

--
HTH

Sandy
In Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed) with @tiscali.co.uk

 

[Epinn]

I did check out help.

My original post was the result of reading help.

If you check help, you will notice that the example I used was from help.
May be you talk about a different "count."

Sorry I asked.

Epinn

 

[SteveW]

Your trying to invent one of those UK TV maths quizes aren't you ?

Steve

 

[Epinn]

Don't know what you are talking about. I am trying to learn how to count.

I have to figure out how to get a 2 by converting the date.

Epinn

Your trying to invent one of those UK TV maths quizes aren't you ?

Steve

 

[SteveW]

Here in the uk we have some naff tv quizes that have numerous different
numbers and you have to add them up - nobody ever gets them right.

Moving on..

=Count(..) counts the number of *numbers*
=sum(..) add the numbers
=sumif(range,2) adds all the 2's
tip for this
in a cell type =function( then ctrl+a
ie =count( CTRL+A
it should give you a popup window explaining the various parameters and as
you fill them in it gives you the answer, so that yuou se what efect
different values have.

Steve

I have to figure out how to get a 2 by converting the date.

do you really want to kn ow dates that have a 2 in them ?

Steve

 

[SteveW]

yes it is from count's help

but the examples show that it is *not* counting the actuall figure 2's
It also shows count(a1:a7) results in 3
so that plus the 2 gives 4

Steve

 

[Sandy Mann]

Epin,

The date only LOOKS like it has a 2 in it. A date is a count of the number
of days since 1/1/1900 - reformat the date as General and you will see the
data that is really stored in the cell, it will either be 39672 or 39790
depending on whether the date is mm/d/yyyy or dd/m/yyyy. (Always assuming
that you are not a Mac user.) It looks like a date because of the
formatting but the formatting is just a mask to make the underlying data
look the way you want it to.

It seems that you are trying to use COUNT() like COUNTIF()

=COUNT(1,2,3,4) will return 4 because it is counting the four numbers.

Therefore with numbers in A1:A3
=COUNT(A1:A3,4) will return 4 because it is counting the three numbers in
A1:A3 AND the number 4 in the function. It is NOT trying to count how many
number 4's are in A1:A3

--
HTH

Sandy
In Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed) with @tiscali.co.uk

 

[Epinn]

Hi Steve,

Thank you for pointing out the obvious. I misread the last formula as cells
containing numbers that have a 2. I find it "strange" to add on a value to
the no. of occurrences returned. Care to give an example?

The following link should be good read for me.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011266271033.aspx

Guess the game show has nothing to do with Sudoku.

Cheers,

Epinn

yes it is from count's help

but the examples show that it is *not* counting the actuall figure 2's
It also shows count(a1:a7) results in 3
so that plus the 2 gives 4

Steve

 

[Epinn]

Thank you Sandy. If you read my response to Steve, you will note that I
have misinterpreted the formula. I wasn't trying to do countif. I also
misinterpreted when you mentioned the two date systems. I was making things
more complicated than they should have been. It's just not my day. Looking
at the bright side, all this misinterpretation allows me to learn extra
stuff. Thank you for explaining.

Epinn (two n's)

Epin,

The date only LOOKS like it has a 2 in it. A date is a count of the number
of days since 1/1/1900 - reformat the date as General and you will see the
data that is really stored in the cell, it will either be 39672 or 39790
depending on whether the date is mm/d/yyyy or dd/m/yyyy. (Always assuming
that you are not a Mac user.) It looks like a date because of the
formatting but the formatting is just a mask to make the underlying data
look the way you want it to.

It seems that you are trying to use COUNT() like COUNTIF()

=COUNT(1,2,3,4) will return 4 because it is counting the four numbers.

Therefore with numbers in A1:A3
=COUNT(A1:A3,4) will return 4 because it is counting the three numbers in
A1:A3 AND the number 4 in the function. It is NOT trying to count how many
number 4's are in A1:A3

--
HTH

Sandy
In Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed) with @tiscali.co.uk

 

[Sandy Mann]

Epinn,

Your'e welcome, sorry about misspelling your name.

--
Regards,


Sandy
In Perth, the ancient capital of Scotland

(e-mail address removed)
(e-mail address removed) with @tiscali.co.uk

Thank you Sandy. If you read my response to Steve, you will note that I
have misinterpreted the formula. I wasn't trying to do countif. I also
misinterpreted when you mentioned the two date systems. I was making
things
more complicated than they should have been. It's just not my day.
Looking
at the bright side, all this misinterpretation allows me to learn extra
stuff. Thank you for explaining.

Epinn (two n's)

 

[Bob Phillips]

Do we? I am not aware of these, can you enlighten me?

--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(replace somewhere in email address with gmail if mailing direct)

Here in the uk we have some naff tv quizes that have numerous different
numbers and you have to add them up - nobody ever gets them right.

Moving on..

=Count(..) counts the number of *numbers*
=sum(..) add the numbers
=sumif(range,2) adds all the 2's
tip for this
in a cell type =function( then ctrl+a
ie =count( CTRL+A
it should give you a popup window explaining the various parameters and as
you fill them in it gives you the answer, so that yuou se what efect
different values have.

Steve

I have to figure out how to get a 2 by converting the date.

do you really want to kn ow dates that have a 2 in them ?

Steve

 

[SteveW]

Do we? I am not aware of these, can you enlighten me?

(the rest is lost due to previous posters -- in the wrong place)

I presume you meaqn the maths quizes.

ave you not seen the ones on QuizMania or The Mint ?

SEVENTEEN MINUS SIXTY

Add the numbers

17 + 60 + 2 (there are 2 numbers) + 9 (theres is IX)
etc etc

Naff - have a look in alt.rec.puzzles

 

[Epinn]

To all: First I must apologize to those who don't like distraction.

Steve,

Previously, you wrote: Your trying to invent one of those UK TV maths
quizes aren't you?

I don't want to disappoint you, so I give you the following for fun. I
didn't create the formula though. Wonder if it works for everybody. It
should. Mind you the formula only works when you apply it in 2006. For
future years, two numbers will have to be adjusted.

Age Game


1. Pick the number of days a week that you would like to go out. (No
negative numbers, 0 is fine.)

2. Multiply this number by 2.

3. Add 5.

4. Multiply it by 50.

5. If you have already had your birthday this year, add 1756.

If you haven't, add 1755.

6. Subtract the four digit year that you were born.



Result:

The first digit of the final number was your original number (i.e. how many
times you want to go out each week).

The second two digits are your age!!

Do we? I am not aware of these, can you enlighten me?

(the rest is lost due to previous posters -- in the wrong place)

I presume you meaqn the maths quizes.

ave you not seen the ones on QuizMania or The Mint ?

SEVENTEEN MINUS SIXTY

Add the numbers

17 + 60 + 2 (there are 2 numbers) + 9 (theres is IX)
etc etc

Naff - have a look in alt.rec.puzzles