Excel COUNTIFS Function: Understanding the Criteria

What is the purpose of the following COUNTIFS function entered into an Excel workbook?

Options:

a. Counting cells in specified ranges based on certain criteria

b. Summing up values in a range

c. Formatting cells based on specific conditions

d. Sorting data in alphabetical order

The correct answer is option A. The COUNTIFS function in the question is used to count the number of cells in the specified ranges on the Detail worksheet that meet specific criteria.

The following COUNTIFS function was entered into a cell on the Summary worksheet in an Excel workbook: =COUNTIFS(DetailF6:F18, SummarylA7, DetaillH6:H18, >5) This function will count the number of cells in the range F6:F18 on the Detail worksheet where there is a match to the value in cell A7 on the Summary worksheet and where the value is greater than 5.

To understand why option A is the correct answer, let's break down the arguments of the COUNTIFS function:

• The first argument, DetailF6:F18, specifies the range of cells in the F6:F18 range on the Detail worksheet.
• The second argument, SummarylA7, specifies the criteria that need to be met. It refers to cell A7 on the Summary worksheet.
• The third argument, DetaillH6:H18, specifies the range of cells in the H6:H18 range on the Detail worksheet.
• The fourth argument, >5, specifies the additional criteria that the values in the range DetaillH6:H18 should be greater than 5.

Therefore, the function will count the number of cells in the range F6:F18 on the Detail worksheet that meet both criteria: a match to the value in cell A7 on the Summary worksheet and a value greater than 5. It's important to note that this function will only count cells on the Detail worksheet and may be copied to other cell locations in the Summary worksheet for similar calculations.