Introduction to COUNT Formulas for Excel 2010

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1 The COUNT formula comes in several forms: COUNT: COUNTA: COUNTBLANK: COUNTIF: Count Cells with Numbers - - COUNT Introduction to COUNT Formulas for Excel 2010 Counts the number of cells containing numbers, as well as numbers within the list of arguments. Counts the number of cells that are not empty, as well as the values within the list of arguments. Counts empty cells in a specified range of cells. Counts using criteria The Excel COUNT function will count cells that contain numbers. Its syntax is: =COUNT(value1, value2,...value30). The arguments (e.g. value1) can be cell references, or values typed into the Excel COUNT formula. The following Excel COUNT function example uses one argument -- a reference to cells A1:A5. 1. Rename the worksheet COUNT 2. Enter the following sample data on your worksheet Figure 1: Sample Data COUNT 3. In cell A7, enter an Excel COUNT formula, to count the numbers in column A: =COUNT(A1:A5) 4. Press the Enter key, to complete the formula. 5. The result will be 3, the number of cells that contain numbers..cell A1 isn't counted, because it contains text. Note: Since dates are stored as numbers, the Excel COUNT function will include any cells that contain dates.

2 Count Cells with Data - - COUNTA The COUNTA function will count cells that are not empty. Its syntax is: =COUNTA(value1, value2,...value30). The arguments (e.g. value1) can be cell references, or values typed into the formula. The following example uses one argument -- a reference to cells A1:A5. 2. Rename the worksheet COUNTA Figure 2: Sample Data COUNTA 4. In cell A8, enter a COUNTA formula, to count the numbers in column A: =COUNTA(A1:A5) 5. Press the Enter key, to complete the formula. The result will be 4, the number of cells that contain data.

3 Count Blank Cells - - COUNTBLANK The COUNTBLANK function will count cells that are empty. Its syntax is: =COUNTBLANK(range). The following example uses a reference to cells A1:A5. 2. Rename the worksheet COUNTBLANK Figure 3: Sample Data COUNTBLANK 4. In cell A7, enter a COUNTBLANK formula, to count the numbers in column A: =COUNTBLANK(A1:A5) 5. Press the Enter key, to complete the formula. 6. The result will be 1, the number of empty cells.

4 Count cells that match criteria - - COUNTIF In Excel, the CountIf function counts the number of cells in a range, that meets a given criteria. The syntax for the CountIf function is: CountIf( range, criteria ) range is the range of cells that you want to count based on the criteria. criteria is used to determine which cells to count. Match Criterion Exactly 2. Rename the worksheet COUNTIF 4. In A12 type the label Chocolate Total 5. Select A13 and type an equal sign (=) to start the formula 6. Type: COUNTIF( Figure 4: Sample Data COUNTIF 1 7. Select the cells that contain the values to check for the criterion. In this example, cells A1:A10 will be checked 8. Type a comma, to separate the arguments 9. Type the criterion. In this example, you're checking for text, so type the word in inverted commas: "Chocolate" Note: upper and lower case are treated equally 10. Type a closing bracket The completed formula is: =COUNTIF(A1:A10,"Chocolate")

5 11. Press the Enter key to complete the entry 12. The result will be 4, the number of cells that contain "Chocolate" 13. Repeat the steps above for Coffee and Tea Match Criterion in a String CountIf can also be used to count cells that contain a criterion as part of the cell's contents. 2. Rename the worksheet COUNTIF 2 4. In A10 type the label Total Cash Sales 5. Select A11 and type an equal sign (=) to start the formula 6. Type: COUNTIF( Figure 5: Sample Data COUNTIF 2 7. Select the cells that contain the values to check for the criterion. In this example, cells A1:A8 will be checked 8. Type a comma, to separate the arguments 9. Type the criterion. In this example, you're checking for text, so type the word in double quotes, with one or more asterisk (*) wildcard characters: "*Cash*" Note: upper and lower case are treated equally 10. Type a closing bracket The completed formula is: =COUNTIF(A1:A8,"*Cash*")

6 11. Press the Enter key to complete the entry 12. The result will be 5, the number of cells that contain the string, "Cash" Use Criterion and operator You can use an operator with a criterion. In this example only the rows where the age is greater than or equal to 65 will be counted. 2. Rename the worksheet COUNTIF 3 4. In A12 type the label Clients aged 65 and over 5. Select A13 and type an equal sign (=) to start the formula 6. Type: COUNTIF( Figure 6: Sample Data COUNTIF 3 7. Select the cells that contain the values to check for the criterion. In this example, cells A1:A10 will be checked 8. Type a comma, to separate the arguments 9. Type the criterion. In this example, you're checking for rows where the age is greater than or equal to 65. The >= operator is used before the number, and the entire criterion is enclosed in double quotes: ">=65" Note: Even though this is a numerical criterion, it must enclosed in double quote marks. 10. Type a closing bracket 11. The completed formula is: =COUNTIF(A1:A10,">=65") 12. Press the Enter key to complete the entry