Google Data Analytics Professional Certification Practice Test

What term describes a calculation that performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division in a spreadsheet?

1. COUNT

2. math expression

3. MAX

4. function

The correct answer is: math expression

The term that best describes a calculation involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division in a spreadsheet is a "math expression." This refers to any combination of numbers, operators (like +, -, *, /), and potentially even functions that evaluates to produce a numeric result. In essence, a math expression is how calculations are formulated in spreadsheet applications, enabling users to perform arithmetic directly in cells. While functions, like SUM or AVERAGE, can carry out calculations, they are a subset of math expressions rather than the complete term. COUNT, on the other hand, specifically relates to determining the number of entries in a dataset, while MAX identifies the largest value in a range—both examples of functions that don't encompass the full range of mathematical operations. Thus, describing these arithmetic operations collectively as a math expression captures the broader concept of calculation in spreadsheets.