The COUNTA function
Name:
Date:
Class:
A
Quick Questions
Shade in the A or B circle for each question.
1. A column of survey answers contains the words Yes and No. Which function counts how many answers there are?
2. Which statement about COUNTA is correct?
3. Cells A2:A6 hold: Ava, Liam, (empty), Mia, Noah. What does =COUNTA(A2:A6) return?
4. Cells B2:B5 hold the text Low, High, Medium, High. What does =COUNT(B2:B5) return?
5. You want to know how many students replied to a survey. Which formula is the best choice for a column of names?
B
Match the Pairs
Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.
| Left column | Right column | |
|---|---|---|
| 1=COUNTA(A2:A100) | AThe range includes the heading in A1, so the answer is one too high. It should start at A2: =COUNTA(A2:A100). | |
| 2=COUNTBLANK(C2:C100) | B=COUNT(D2:D50) | |
| 3Count how many students typed an answer in a column of survey responses, even though the answers are words | CCounts every cell in A2:A100 that is not empty, including text and numbers | |
| 4COUNT only counts numbers, so it is the right choice for counting numeric scores in a range | DCOUNT only counts numbers, so it returns 0 for text answers. It should be =COUNTA(B2:B50). | |
| 5=COUNT(B2:B50) on a column of text answers like Yes and No | ECounts how many cells in C2:C100 are empty | |
| 6=COUNTA(A1:A100) to count survey responses when A1 holds the heading Name | F=COUNTA(B2:B50) |
C
Definitions
=COUNTA(A2:A100)
D
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.
1.
=______(A2:A100)
2.
=COUNTA(A2_A100)
3.
=_____(B2:B30)
4.
=__________(C2:C50)
5.
=COUNTA(A2:A100)_COUNTBLANK(A2:A100)
E
Spot the Error
Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.
Question 1
A
D2: =COUNT(A2:A100)
B
D3: =COUNTBLANK(A2:A100)
C
D4: =COUNT(B2:B100)
Question 2
A
A1: Name
B
B1: Age
C
D1: Total responses
D
D2: =COUNTA(A2:A100
Question 3
A
// Answers are in A2:A50
B
=COUNTA(A2-A50)
C
// Counts every non-empty cell
Question 4
A
// Count blank survey cells
B
=COUNTEMPTY(C2:C100)
C
=COUNTA(C2:C100)
Question 5
A
COUNTA(B2:B30)
B
=COUNT(C2:C30)
C
=COUNTBLANK(B2:B30)
Answer Key
The COUNTA function
Section A: Quick Questions
Q1
B — =COUNTA(A2:A100)
Q2
A — It counts every cell that is not empty, including text
Q3
A — 4
Q4
A — 0
Q5
B — =COUNTA(A2:A100)
Section B: Match the Pairs
Q1
=COUNTA(A2:A100) → Counts every cell in A2:A100 that is not empty, including text and numbers
Q2
=COUNTBLANK(C2:C100) → Counts how many cells in C2:C100 are empty
Q3
Count how many students typed an answer in a column of survey responses, even though the answers are words → =COUNTA(B2:B50)
Q4
COUNT only counts numbers, so it is the right choice for counting numeric scores in a range → =COUNT(D2:D50)
Q5
=COUNT(B2:B50) on a column of text answers like Yes and No → COUNT only counts numbers, so it returns 0 for text answers. It should be =COUNTA(B2:B50).
Q6
=COUNTA(A1:A100) to count survey responses when A1 holds the heading Name → The range includes the heading in A1, so the answer is one too high. It should start at A2: =COUNTA(A2:A100).
Section C: Definitions
Q1
=COUNTA(A2:A100) — COUNTA counts every cell in a range that is not empty, including text. Use it to count survey responses. COUNT only counts numbers.Section D: Fill in the Blanks
Q1
=COUNTA(A2:A100)Q2
=COUNTA(A2:A100)Q3
=COUNT(B2:B30)Q4
=COUNTBLANK(C2:C50)Q5
=COUNTA(A2:A100)+COUNTBLANK(A2:A100)Section E: Spot the Error
Q1
A — Column A holds names, which are text. COUNT only counts numbers, so it would return 0. Use =COUNTA(A2:A100) to count the responses.
Q2
D — The closing bracket is missing, so the formula is not complete. It should be =COUNTA(A2:A100).
Q3
B — A range uses a colon, not a minus sign. A2-A50 would subtract two cells. It should be =COUNTA(A2:A50).
Q4
B — There is no COUNTEMPTY function in spreadsheets. The function that counts empty cells is COUNTBLANK, so it should be =COUNTBLANK(C2:C100).
Q5
A — A formula must start with an equals sign. Without it the cell just shows text. It should be =COUNTA(B2:B30).