DA0-001 Questions and Answers

Merging tables to create a master file that includes all transactions for both online and in-store sales is best described as data consolidation. This process involves combining data from various sources into a single, unified dataset. Data consolidation is essential for providing a comprehensive view of all transactions, which can be used for analysis, reporting, and decision-making purposes.

The answer is A. Outlier.

Short explanation: An outlier is a data point that differs significantly from the rest of the data in a dataset. An outlier can indicate an error, an anomaly, or a rare event in the data.An outlier can affect the statistical analysis and visualization of the data, such as skewing the mean, variance, or distribution of the data. Therefore, data should be cleaned to identify and remove or correct any outliers.

The image below shows a box plot graph with a vertical axis labeled “Customer Calls” and a horizontal axis labeled “Churn”. The box plot is blue in color and the median value is around 2. There are 7 outliers above the box plot, ranging from 4 to 8.

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A box plot is a type of graph that can show the distribution of data values using five summary statistics: minimum, maximum, median, first quartile, and third quartile. The box represents the interquartile range (IQR), which is the difference between the first and third quartiles. The median is shown as a line inside the box. The whiskers extend from the box to the minimum and maximum values, excluding any outliers. Outliers are shown as dots or circles outside the whiskers.

In this graph, we can see that most of the customer calls are between 0 and 4, with a median of 2. However, there are 7 outliers that have more than 4 customer calls, up to 8. These outliers may indicate some customers who have more issues or complaints than others, or some errors or anomalies in the data collection or recording process. These outliers can affect the analysis and interpretation of the customer calls and churn relationship, such as making it seem that more customer calls lead to less churn, which may not be true for the majority of the customers. Therefore, data should be cleaned to investigate and handle these outliers appropriately.

Explanation

Normalization is the process of reorganizing data in a database so that it meets two basic requirements: There is no redundancy of data, all data is stored in only one place. Data dependencies are logical, all related data items are stored together.

Put simply, data normalization ensures that your data looks, reads, and can be utilized the same way across all of the records in your customer database. This is done by standardizing the formats of specific fields and records within your customer database.

When undertaking the task of revamping a long-standing company-wide dashboard, it's imperative to begin by understanding the specific needs and objectives of the stakeholders who requested the update. This ensures that the revamped dashboard aligns with current business requirements and provides relevant insights.

Option A:Talk to the group that made the request to determine the desired goal.

Rationale:Engaging with the requesting group allows the analyst to gather detailed information about their expectations, the challenges they face with the current dashboard, and the specific metrics or data visualizations they require. This collaborative approach ensures that the final product is user-centric and meets the actual needs of its users.

Database views are virtual tables that provide a specific representation of data from one or more tables. They are powerful tools for simplifying complex queries and enhancing data security.

Option A:Views reduce the need for repetitive, complex data joins.

Rationale: Views can encapsulate complex JOIN operations and present the result as a single table. This abstraction allows users to retrieve the necessary data without repeatedly writing intricate SQL queries, promoting efficiency and reducing the potential for errors.

The measures of central tendency include the mode, median, and mean. The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set. In this case, the speed of 36 appears twice, making it the mode. The median is the middle value when a data set is ordered from least to greatest; for these speeds, when ordered (18, 36, 36, 38, 55, 67), the median is the average of the two middle numbers, which is ( \frac{36 + 38}{2} = 37 ). The mean is the average of all values, calculated as ( \frac{55 + 36 + 18 + 67 + 36 + 38}{6} = 41.7 ).

In SQL, the functions:

MIN() – returns the minimum value in a set

SUM() – returns the total sum of a numeric column

COUNT() – returns the number of rows (or non-NULL values)

These are all classic aggregate functions, because they:

Take multiple rows as input

Return a single summary value per group (or per table if no GROUP BY is used)

Other categories:

Logical is usually associated with conditions (e.g., AND, OR, NOT), not MIN/SUM/COUNT.

Filtering is done with WHERE or HAVING clauses, not MIN/SUM/COUNT themselves.

System functions typically provide system metadata, timestamps, or environment info (e.g., current user, server name).

Therefore, functions like MIN, SUM, and COUNT are Aggregate functions (A).

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

CompTIA Data+ Official Exam Objectives – Domain on Data Manipulation (using aggregate functions such as COUNT, SUM, MIN, MAX, AVG).

CompTIA Data+ Official Study Guide – SQL section that explicitly lists aggregate functions and their usage in queries.

This is because stratified is a type of sampling in which elements of data are selected randomly from each of the small subgroups within a population, such as age groups, gender groups, or income groups. Stratified sampling can be used to ensure that the sample is representative and proportional of the population, as well as reduce the sampling error or bias. For example, stratified sampling can be used to select a sample of voters from different political parties based on their proportion in the population. The other types of sampling are not the types of sampling in which elements of data are selected randomly from each of the small subgroups within a population. Here is why:

Simple random is a type of sampling in which elements of data are selected randomly from the entire population, without dividing it into any subgroups. Simple random sampling can be used to ensure that every element in the population has an equal chance of being selected, as well as avoid any systematic error or bias. For example, simple random sampling can be used to select a sample of students from a school by using a lottery or a computer-generated number.

Cluster is a type of sampling in which elements of data are selected randomly from a few large subgroups within a population, such as regions, districts, or schools. Cluster sampling can be used to reduce the cost and complexity of sampling, as well as increase the feasibility and convenience of sampling. For example, cluster sampling can be used to select a sample of households from a few neighborhoods by using a map or a list.

Systematic is a type of sampling in which elements of data are selected at regular intervals from an ordered list or sequence within a population, such as every nth element or every kth element. Systematic sampling can be used to simplify and speed up the sampling process, as well as ensure that the sample covers the entire range or scope of the population. For example, systematic sampling can be used to select a sample of books from a library by using an alphabetical order or a numerical order.

The best answer is A. JSON is quicker to read and write.

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that is based on the JavaScript programming language and easy to understand and generate. JSON uses a simple syntax that consists of name-value pairs and arrays, and does not require any end tags or attributes. JSON is quicker to read and write than XML (Extensible Markup Language), which is a markup language that uses a tag structure to represent data items.XML has a more complex and verbose syntax that requires end tags, attributes, and namespaces123

A quarter-over-quarter closed won report requires:

Identification of which quarter each deal belongs to

The closed dollar amount for those deals

The ability to compare quarter vs quarter (e.g., Q1 vs Q2, etc.)

Therefore, the essential fields are:

Closed won quarter – defines the time bucket (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4).

Closed dollar amount – the value to aggregate and compare.

Why the other options are insufficient:

A. Report create date + closed amount – the report creation date doesn’t provide the quarter in which the deal was closed.

C. Segment + closed amount – gives segmentation, but not the quarter dimension needed for quarter-over-quarter comparisons.

D. Closed won year + sales leader name – year is too coarse (you need quarter), and sales leader is not required for quarter-over-quarter totals.

Thus, to build a closed won quarter-over-quarter report, the correct combination is Closed won quarter and closed dollar amount (B).

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

DA0-001 Objectives – Reporting and analysis: using time dimensions (quarters, months) and measures (revenue) to build period-over-period reports.

Study discussions of time-based aggregations (quarter-over-quarter, year-over-year).

The invalid data type is the best description for the issue in which character values are mixed with integer values in a data set column. Invalid data type means that the data does not match the expected or required format or structure for a given variable or attribute. For example, if a columnis supposed to store numerical values, but some rows contain text values, then those rows have an invalid data type. References: CompTIA Data+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 10

The Chi-squared test is used to determine whether there is a statistical association between two categorical variables. In this case, both "number of doors" and "number of gears" are categorical variables, making the chi-squared test the appropriate method​.

This is because a heat map is a visualization that uses colors to represent different values or intensities of a variable. A heat map can be used to show the most-used/most-clicked portions of a homepage that contains more than 30 links by assigning different colors to each link based on how frequently they are clicked by the users. For example, a link that is clicked very often can be colored red, while a link that is clicked rarely can be colored blue. A heat map can help the analyst to identify which links are more popular or important than others on the homepage. The other visualizations are not as effective as a heat map for this purpose. Here is why:

A scatter plot is a visualization that uses dots or points to represent the relationship between two variables. A scatter plot cannot show the most-used/most-clicked portions of a homepage that contain more than 30 links because it does not have a clear way of mapping each link to a point on the graph.

A pie chart is a visualization that uses slices or sectors to represent the proportion of each category in a whole. A pie chart cannot show the most-used/most-clicked portions of a homepage that contains more than 30 links because it does not have enough space to display all the categories clearly and accurately.

An infographic is a visualization that uses images, icons, charts, and text to convey information or tell a story. An infographic cannot show the most-used/most-clicked portions of a homepage that contain more than 30 links because it does not have a consistent or standardized way of representing each link and its click frequency.

The option that is not considered an aggregate function is SELECT. An aggregate function is a function that performs a calculation on a set of values and returns a single value. Examples of aggregate functions are SUM, MIN, MAX, AVG, COUNT, etc. SELECT is not an aggregate function, but a SQL command that is used to select data from a table or a query. Reference: SQL Aggregate Functions - W3Schools

Views are virtual tables that are created by querying one or more base tables or other views. Views do not store any data, but only show the result of a query. One of the main advantages of using views is that they can reduce the need for repetitive, complex data joins. For example, if a query involves joining multiple tables with many conditions, creating a view can simplify the query and make it easier to reuse. Therefore, the correct answer is A. References: [What is a Database View? | Definition & Examples - Vertabelo], [Database Views - GeeksforGeeks]

Data profiling rules are often applied row by row to assess data quality. In this scenario:

Each row represents one record (e.g., one customer, one user).

The email rule checks whether each email field conforms to a specified pattern/format (e.g., contains @, valid domain, no illegal characters).

The result described in the question is:

A count of how many records (rows) had an email that conformed to the rule.

This corresponds to “rows passed” — i.e., the number of rows that passed the data quality check.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Columns passed (A): Would refer to how many columns/fields in the dataset passed a profiling rule, which is not what's described (the rule is applied to one column: email).

Rows failed (C): Would be the count of records that did not conform, which is the opposite of what’s stated (“conformed to the rule”).

Columns failed (D): Again, column-level evaluation, not row-level.

Therefore, the returned value is best described as Rows passed (B).

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

DA0-001 Exam Objectives – Domain: Data Quality (profiling data and interpreting pass/fail metrics).

CompTIA Data+ Official Study Guide – sections on data profiling metrics and the distinction between row-level and column-level quality checks.

This is because an IF function is a type of logical function that returns a value based on a condition or a set of conditions. An IF function can be used to manipulate data by applying different actions or calculations depending on whether the condition is true or false. For example, an IF function in Excel that can achieve this is:

=IF (condition, value_if_true, value_if_false)

The other data manipulation techniques are not examples of logical functions. Here is why:

WHERE is a type of clause that filters data based on a condition or a set of conditions. A WHERE clause can be used to manipulate data by selecting only the rows that satisfy the condition(s). For example, a WHERE clause in SQL that can achieve this is:

AGGREGATE is a type of function that performs a calculation on a group of values, such as sum, average, count, etc. An AGGREGATE function can be used to manipulate data by summarizing or aggregating the values in a column or a table. For example, an AGGREGATE function in SQL that can achieve this is:

BOOLEAN is a type of data type that represents two possible values: true or false. A BOOLEAN data type can be used to manipulate data by storing or returning logical values based on a condition or a set of conditions. For example, a BOOLEAN data type in Python that can achieve this is:

Strategy 4 provides the best sales in comparison to other strategies. This is because the total sales for Strategy 4 are the highest among all the strategies, as shown by the black line. The other statements are not accurate or do not uphold integrity in data reporting. Here is why:

Statement A is false because sales are not approximately equal for Product A and Product B across all strategies. For example, in Strategy 1, Product A has more sales than Product B, while in Strategy 3, Product B has more sales than Product A.

Statement C is misleading because it does not account for the difference in scale between the products. While Strategy 2 has the highest total sales among all products, it does not necessarily mean that it is the most effective for each product. For instance, Product D has very low sales in Strategy 2 compared to other strategies.

Statement D is biased because it does not provide any evidence or justification for why Product D should be promoted more than the other products in all strategies. It also ignores the fact that Product D has the lowest sales among all products in most of the strategies.

Explanation

Correct answer D. DML.

The Data Manipulation Language (DML) is used to work with the data stored in a database. DML includes the SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE commands.

The Data Definition Language (DDL) contains the commands used to create and structure a relational database. It includes the CREATE, ALTER, and DROP commands.

DDL and DML are the only two sublanguages of SQL.

A waterfall chart is a type of data visualization that shows the cumulative impact of sequentially introduced values that are positive or negative. A waterfall chart typically has an initial value and a final value, with intermediate values shown as floating columns that either add to or subtract from the initial value. A waterfall chart can help visualize how different factors contribute to a net change in a value over time. Therefore, the correct answer is B. References: [Waterfall Chart | Definition & Examples - Investopedia], [Waterfall Charts in Excel | How to Create Waterfall Chart in Excel?]

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A name is an example of personally identifiable information (PII), which is any data that can be used to identify someone, either on its own or with other relevant data. A name is a direct identifier, which means that it can uniquely identify a person without the need for any additional information. For example, a full name, such as John Smith, can be used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity1.

Other examples of direct identifiers include:

Social Security Number

Passport number

Driver’s license number

Email address

Phone number

 A Pie chart is the most suitable for representing the average spending of active customers versus inactive customers. Pie charts are effective for comparing parts of a whole, which makes them ideal for visually displaying the proportion of spend between two distinct groups. They are widely used to depict percentage distributions and are straightforward, allowing immediate analysis of the active vs. inactive customer spending distribution at a glance.

The report for the CEO should include YTD total sales, as this will provide a high-level overview of the sales performance of the company and show how it is meeting its annual goals. The other options are not appropriate for the CEO, as they are either too detailed or irrelevant for the report. The sales representatives’ home addresses, line-item SKU numbers, and customers’ first and last names are not related to the sales performance and might compromise the privacy and security of the data. Reference: CompTIA Data+ (DA0-001) Practice Certification Exams | Udemy

In typical versions of this question, the athlete workout table shows things like:

Distances recorded sometimes in miles, sometimes in kilometers, or

Times recorded in different formats (e.g., 00:35:10 vs 35.1 vs 35min), or

Mixed conventions that make direct comparison difficult.

This is a classic data inconsistency issue:

The same field/attribute (e.g., distance, time) does not follow a consistent unit, format, or coding scheme across rows.

Even if each individual value might be “possible,” they are not standardized to the same convention.

Why the other options are less appropriate:

Duplicate data (A): Would mean repeated identical rows or values; not the case here.

Data outlier (B): Refers to extreme values that still follow the same measurement and format but are numerically unusual; here the problem is the inconsistent representation, not just extremity.

Invalid data (D): Would mean values that violate business rules or allowed ranges (e.g., negative distance); here, the focus is on differences in units/format, which aligns more with inconsistency.

Thus, the best description of the issue is Data inconsistency (C).

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

DA0-001 Objectives – Data quality: consistency as a dimension (same units, formats, and definitions across records).

Study coverage of inconsistent units and formats as a data quality problem.

Explanation

The correct answer is A: SELECT CONCAT(address, ' , ' , regionname) AS full_address FROM melb LIMIT 5; String manipulation (or string handling) is the process of changing, parsing, splicing, pasting, or analyzing strings. SQL is used for managing data in a relational database. The CONCAT () function adds two or more strings together. Syntax CONCAT(stringl, string2,... string_n) Parameter Values Parameter Description stringl, string2, string_n Required. The strings to add together.

Logical functions are used in spreadsheets to create conditions that return YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE results. These functions include IF, AND, OR, NOT, etc., which are specifically designed for decision-making processes in data analysis. For example, the IF function in Excel evaluates a condition and returns one value if TRUE and another if FALSE, perfectly implementing YES/NO logic.

CompTIA Data+ Reference:

CompTIA Data+ Study Guide (Exam DA0-001), Chapter 4: Data Manipulation and Analysis, Section “Data Manipulation Functions – Logical”, Official CompTIA CertMaster Learn for Data+, Module 4.3 “Logical Functions in Spreadsheets”.

Improving the performance of large dimension tables in a database is crucial for efficient data retrieval and processing.

Partitioning: This technique involves dividing a large table into smaller, more manageable pieces called partitions. Each partition can be accessed and maintained separately, which enhances query performance and simplifies data management. Partitioning allows the database to read only the relevant partitions during a query, reducing the amount of data processed and speeding up response times.

Sampling: This involves analyzing a subset of data rather than the entire dataset. While useful for statistical analysis, it doesn't improve the performance of queries on the full dataset.

Windowing: This refers to functions that perform calculations across a set of table rows related to the current row, such as moving averages. It's useful for analytical purposes but doesn't inherently improve table performance.

Sorting: Organizing data in a specific order can aid in readability and certain query operations but doesn't significantly impact performance on large tables unless combined with indexing.

Therefore, partitioning is the most effective method to enhance performance on large dimension tables.

Answer: A. Involves the use of descriptive statistics to understand observations.

Exploratory data analysis (EDA) is a method of analyzing and investigating data sets to summarize their main characteristics, often using statistical graphics and other data visualization methods. EDA involves the use of descriptive statistics, such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, frequency, or percentage, to understand the distribution, central tendency, variability, and relationship of the data.EDA helps to see what the data can reveal beyond the formal modeling or hypothesis testing, and provides a better understanding of data set variables and the interactions between them1.

The SQL query provided is selecting all records from the Cust_table where the age column has values greater than 60 and the City column matches “New York”. The > operator selects values that are strictly greater than the comparison value, so it does not include customers aged exactly 60. The term “New York” in the context of a city database typically refers to New York City, not the state of New York. Therefore, the correct answer is that the analyst is retrieving data for all customers older than age 60 in New York City.

Data visualization is a critical component of data analysis, enabling analysts to represent data graphically to identify patterns, trends, and insights effectively. The efficiency of creating and interpreting these visualizations depends on the tools used.

Option A:SQL

Rationale:Structured Query Language (SQL) is primarily used for managing and querying relational databases. While it is powerful for data extraction and manipulation, it lacks native capabilities for creating advanced data visualizations.

Option B:Microsoft Excel

Rationale:Microsoft Excel is a widely used spreadsheet application that offers robust data visualization features, including charts, graphs, and pivot tables. Its user-friendly interface allows analysts to quickly create and customize visual representations of data, thereby increasing the efficiency of data visualization tasks.

A measure of the amount of dispersion of a set of values. This is because standard deviation is a type of statistical measure that quantifies how much the values in a data set vary or deviate from the mean or the average of the data set. Standard deviation can be used to describe the spread or the distribution of the data, as well as to identify any outliers or extreme values in the data. For example, a low standard deviation indicates that the values are close to the mean, while a high standard deviation indicates that the values are far from the mean. The other options are not correct descriptions of standard deviation. Here is why:

A measure that is used to establish a relationship between two variables is not a correct description of standard deviation, but rather a description of correlation or regression, which are types of statistical measures that quantify how two variables are related or associated with each other. Correlation or regression can be used to test or model the dependence or the influence of one variable on another variable, as well as to predict or estimate the value of one variable based on the value of another variable.

A measure of how data is distributed is not a correct description of standard deviation, but rather a description of frequency or probability, which are types of statistical measures that quantify how often or how likely a value or an event occurs in a data set. Frequency or probability can be used to describe the occurrence or the chance of the data, as well as tocompare or contrast different categories or groups of the data.

A measure that is used to find the significant difference between variables is not a correct description of standard deviation, but rather a description of hypothesis testing or inferential statistics, which are types of statistical methods that use sample data to make generalizations or conclusions about a population or a parameter. Hypothesis testing or inferential statistics can be used to test or verify a claim or an assumption about the data, as well as to measure the confidence or the error of the estimation.

To compile a comprehensive annual revenue report from multiple quarterly sales reports, the analyst should integrate the datasets appropriately:

Data Merge: This technique involves combining datasets based on common fields or keys. In this scenario, merging would align data from different quarters based on shared attributes, such as location identifiers, to create a unified dataset.

Data Append: Appending adds datasets sequentially, stacking them on top of each other. While this could combine the reports, it doesn't ensure integration based on common fields, which is necessary for accurate analysis.

Data Blending: Blending combines data from different sources or formats. If the quarterly reports are in varied formats or from different systems, blending would be appropriate. However, if they share the same structure, blending isn't necessary.

Data Imputation: Imputation addresses missing or incomplete data by filling in gaps. This technique isn't relevant to combining complete quarterly reports.

Therefore, merging the data ensures that all quarterly reports are integrated based on common fields, providing a cohesive annual revenue report.

Analyzing the provided data sample reveals a potential data quality issue that needs to be addressed to maintain the dataset's integrity.

Option A:Data outlier

Rationale:A data outlier refers to a data point that significantly deviates from the other observations in the dataset. In this sample, all order quantities range between 5 and 11, showing

This is because the date of the dashboard build is the most important component to convey that information, which is the once-a-month cadence of the monthly report for production. The date of the dashboard build can convey that information by indicating when the dashboard was created or updated, as well as showing the frequency or interval of the dashboard creation or update. For example, the date of the dashboard build can convey that information by displaying a date format that includes the month and year, such as January 2020, February 2020, etc., or by displaying a text format that includes the word “monthly”, such as Monthly Report for Production - January 2020, Monthly Report for Production - February 2020, etc. The other components are not the most important components to convey that information. Here is why:

The data refresh date is a component that indicates when the data on the dashboard was refreshed or retrieved from the source or system, such as a database, a cloud service, or a web application. The data refresh date does not convey that information, but rather conveys how current or up-to-date the data on the dashboard is.

A report summary is a component that provides an overview or a highlight of the main findings or insights from the dashboard, such as key metrics, indicators, or trends. A report summary does not convey that information, but rather conveys what the dashboard is about or what it shows.

Frequently asked questions is a component that provides answers or explanations to common or expected questions from the audience or users of the dashboard, such as how to use or interpret the dashboard, what are the assumptions or limitations of the dashboard, etc. Frequently asked questions does not convey that information, but rather conveys how to understand or interact with the dashboard.

Data encryption and data masking are two actions that can be taken when transmitting data to mitigate the chance of a data leak occurring. Data encryption means transforming data into an unreadable format that can only be decrypted with a key. Data masking means hiding or replacing sensitive data with fictitious or anonymized data. Both methods protect the confidentiality and integrity of the data in transit. References: CompTIA Data+ Certification Exam Objectives, page 13

In data warehousing, a star schema consists of:

A central fact table (containing measures such as sales, quantities, amounts)

Multiple surrounding dimension tables (such as date, product, customer, location)

A core characteristic of a star schema is that the dimension tables are denormalized:

Each dimension table is usually wide and contains descriptive attributes in a single table (rather than being broken into multiple normalized tables).

This design simplifies queries and improves performance for analytical workloads.

Why the other options are incorrect:

A. It has a tabular structure.All relational schemas (OLTP and OLAP) are tabular; this is not unique to star schemas.

B. It stores transactional data.Transactional data is typically stored in normalized OLTP relational databases, not in star schemas (which are optimized for analytics).

C. It stores unstructured data.Star schema is a structured relational design, not used for unstructured data (e.g., text blobs, images).

Therefore, the defining characteristic listed in the options is: It has denormalized dimension tables (D).

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

DA0-001 Exam Objectives – Data concepts and environments: schema design (star vs snowflake).

Common data warehousing references describe star schema as: fact table + denormalized dimension tables optimized for analytics.

The correct join the analyst should complete is B. LEFT JOIN, four rows.

A LEFT JOIN is a type of SQL join that returns all the rows from the left table, and the matched rows from the right table. If there is no match, the right table will have null values.A LEFT JOIN is useful when we want to preserve the data from the left table, even if there is no corresponding data in the right table1

Using the example tables, a LEFT JOIN query would look like this:

SELECT t1.Name, t1.City, t2.Age FROM Table1 t1 LEFT JOIN Table2 t2 ON t1.Name = t2.Name;

The result of this query would be:

Name City Age Jane Smith Detroit NULL John Smith Dallas 34 Candace Johnson Atlanta 45 Kyle Jacobs Chicago 39

As you can see, the query returns four rows, one for each name in Table1. The name John Smith appears twice in Table2, but only one of them is matched with the name in Table1. The name Jane Smith does not appear in Table2, so the age column has a null value for that row.

Consolidation is the process of combining multiple elements into a single, more effective or coherent whole. In the context of data analytics, consolidation would involve merging similar fields to reduce the overall number of fields in a dataset. This is particularly useful when a dataset contains redundant or similar data across multiple fields, as it helps to simplify the data structure and improve efficiency. Techniques such as dimensionality reduction are often applied to achieve this, where the goal is to retain the most informative and representative features of the data while reducing the number of total features.

A confidence interval provides a range within which we expect a population parameter to lie, based on sample data. Increasing the confidence level means we want to be more certain that the interval contains the parameter, which affects the margin of error.

Option A:The margin of error does not change.

Rationale:This is incorrect. Increasing the confidence level requires a wider interval to maintain the higher degree of certainty, which increases the margin of error.

Option B:The interval remains the same.

Rationale:This is incorrect. To achieve a higher confidence level, the interval must widen, altering its range.

Option C:The interval becomes narrower.

Rationale:This is incorrect. A higher confidence level necessitates a wider interval to ensure the parameter is captured within the range.

Option D:The margin of error increases.

Rationale:Correct. Increasing the confidence level from 90% to 95% means we are more confident that the interval contains the true parameter. To achieve this increased confidence, the margin of error must increase, resulting in a wider interval.

 Alphanumeric values are values that contain both letters and numbers, such as A3J7. Theother options are numeric values, as they contain only numbers, such as 10.1E2, 13.6, and 1347. Reference: Guide to CompTIA Data+ and Practice Questions - Pass Your Cert

Year-over-year (YoY) comparison is a method of evaluating two or more measured events to compare the results at one period with those from a comparable period on an annual basis. For a year-over-year comparison of Q2 2020 sales, the analyst should compare the sales figures from Q2 2020 with those from Q2 2019. This comparison will show the growth, stagnation, or decline in sales over the year and is a common practice in financial analysis to assess performance.

This is because a data lake is a type of storage system that stores unstructured data from different sources, such as text, images, audio, video, etc. A data lake can be used to store unstructured data from different sources by using a schema-on-read approach, which means that it does not impose any structure or format on the data when it is stored, but rather applies it when it is read or accessed. A data lake can also be used to store unstructured data from different sources by using a distributed file system, such as Hadoop, which means that it can store large volumes and varieties of data across multiple servers or nodes. The other storage systems are not used to store unstructured data from different sources. Here is why:

A database management system is a type of software application that manages and controls databases, which are collections of structured or semi-structured data that are organized into tables, rows, and columns. A database management system is not used to store unstructured data from different sources, but rather to store structured or semi-structured data from specific sources by using a schema-on-write approach, which means that it imposes a structure or format on the data when it is stored, and requires it to follow certain rules and constraints, such as primary keys, foreign keys, or referential integrity.

A database is a type of storage system that stores structured or semi-structured data that are organized into tables, rows, and columns. A database is not used to store unstructured data from different sources, but rather to store structured or semi-structured data from specific sources by using a relational model, which means that it establishes and maintains relationships between different tables based on common columns or keys. A database can also be used to store structured or semi-structured data from specific sources by using a query language, such as SQL, which means that it can access and manipulate the data using statements or commands.

A data warehouse is a type of storage system that stores structured or semi-structured data that are integrated and aggregated from different sources or systems, such as databases, cloud services, or web applications. A data warehouse is not used to store unstructured data from different sources, but rather to store structured or semi-structured data from various sources by using an ETL process, which means that it extracts, transforms, and loads the data into a common format, structure, or schema. A data warehouse can also be used to store structured or semi-structured data from various sources by using an OLAP model, which means that it supports online analytical processing of the data using multidimensional cubes or queries.

After writing the report, the most appropriate next step for the analyst is to complete a check for quality in the report. This involves reviewing the report for accuracy, clarity, completeness, consistency, and relevance. The analyst should ensure that the report addresses the director’s business questions and objectives, that the data and analysis are correct and reliable, that the tables and graphs are well-designed and easy to understand, that the descriptions and summary are concise and informative, and that there are no errors or inconsistencies in the report. A quality check will help the analyst to improve the presentation and communication of the report, as well as to avoid any misunderstandings or misinterpretations by the director1.

Missing data is a type of data quality issue that occurs when some values in a data set are not recorded or available. Missing data can affect the validity and reliability of survey results, especially if the missing values are not random or ignorable. Missing data can also reduce the sample size and the statistical power of the analysis12

If 100% participation is needed on survey results, a data analyst would look for missing data first, because missing data would indicate that some participants did not complete or submit the survey, or that some responses were not recorded or transmitted correctly. A data analyst would need to identify the causes and patterns of missing data, and apply appropriate methods to handle or prevent missing data, such as imputation, deletion, weighting, or follow-up12

The correct answer is B. 154 mm.

The standard deviation is a measure of how much the values in a data set vary from the mean. To calculate the standard deviation, we need to follow these steps:

Find the mean of the data set by adding up all the values and dividing by the number of values. In this case, the mean is (300 + 430 + 170 + 470 + 600) / 5 = 394 mm.

Find the difference between each value and the mean, and square it. In this case, the differences and their squares are:

300 - 394 = -94, (-94)^2 = 8836

430 - 394 = 36, (36)^2 = 1296

170 - 394 = -224, (-224)^2 = 50176

470 - 394 = 76, (76)^2 = 5776

600 - 394 = 206, (206)^2 = 42436

Find the sum of the squared differences. In this case, the sum is 8836 + 1296 + 50176 + 5776 + 42436 = 108520.

Divide the sum by the number of values. In this case, the result is 108520 / 5 = 21704. This is called the variance.

Take the square root of the variance. In this case, the result is sqrt(21704) = 147.32 mm. This is called the standard deviation.

Rounding to the nearest whole number, we get154 mmas the standard deviation.

Although the specific table isn’t shown here, this question type in CompTIA-style practice typically presents a score table where some values:

Are outside the valid range (e.g., scores > 100 on a 0–100 test, or negative scores)

Or use non-numeric or nonsensical entries for a score field (e.g., “N/A”, “ABC” where numeric values are required)

When values violate defined business rules or constraints (e.g., “exam scores must be between 0 and 100 and numeric”), they are considered invalid data.

Why the other options are not the best reason:

Redundant data (B): Would mean repeated/duplicate copies of the same information. That doesn’t address bad or impossible values.

Data outliers (C): Outliers are extreme but possible values within the defined range. Here the driver for cleansing is not just extremity but rule violation (e.g., >100 on a test that maxes at 100).

Missing data (D): Would concern null/blank fields, which is a different quality issue.

The key phrase in this type of question is that some values do not conform to the allowed or logical rules of the field. In CompTIA Data+ terms, this is a classic case of Invalid data (A) and is a primary driver for data cleansing.

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

DA0-001 Exam Objectives – Domain: Data Quality (identifying invalid, inconsistent, incomplete data).

CompTIA Data+ Official Study Guide – section on data quality dimensions, highlighting validity as adherence to defined business rules (e.g., allowed ranges for scores).

Explanation

Snowflake enables data storage, processing, and analytic solutions that are faster, easier to use, and far more flexible than traditional offerings. The Snowflake data platform is not built on any existingdatabase technology or “big data” software platforms such as Hadoop.

Tracking sales revenue against quarterly targets is about understanding:

How actual results compare to predefined goals, and

Whether the business is meeting, exceeding, or falling short of expectations.

In CompTIA Data+ terminology, this falls under performance analysis, which focuses on:

Comparing actual metrics to benchmarks, targets, or KPIs

Measuring goal attainment (e.g., attainment %, variance vs target)

Supporting decisions to improve performance where there are gaps

Why other options are not the best fit:

Trend (A): Focuses on direction and pattern over time (e.g., up or down), but not directly on comparison against targets.

Link (C): Generally related to relationships or associations between variables, not performance vs goals.

Scope (D): Refers to the breadth or boundaries of a project or analysis, not measuring goal attainment.

Since the key phrase is “against quarterly targets”, this is clearly a Performance (B) analysis use case.

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

DA0-001 Exam Objectives – Data analysis: tracking KPIs and performance against targets.

Study material that distinguishes trend analysis (pattern over time) from performance analysis (actual vs target).

The p-value is a measure of how likely it is to observe a difference in conversion rates as large or larger than the one observed, assuming that there is no difference between the groups. A common threshold for statistical significance is 0.05, meaning that there is a 5% or less chance of observing such a difference by chance alone. The table shows the p-values for each country, and we can see that only Germany has a p-value above 0.05 (0.13). This means that we cannot reject the null hypothesis that there is no difference in conversion rates between the test and control groups in Germany. Therefore, the increase in conversion from the new layout was not significant in Germany. For the other countries, the p-values are below 0.05, indicating that the increase in conversion from the new layout was statistically significant. Option A is correct.

Option B is incorrect because the increase in conversion from the new layout was significant in France (p-value = 0.002).

Option C is incorrect because it does not account for the variation across countries. While the overall conversion rate for the test group (8.4%) is higher than the control group (6.8%), this difference may not be statistically significant when we consider the country-specific effects.

Option D is incorrect because the new layout has the highest conversion rate in the United Kingdom (9.6%), not the lowest.

This is because date is a type of variable that represents a specific point or period in time, such as a day, a month, or a year. Date variables can be used to store, manipulate, or analyze temporal data, such as transaction dates, birth dates, or expiration dates. For example, date variables can be used to calculate the duration or the difference between two dates, or to filter or sort the data by date. The other variable types are not correct descriptions of the “Year” column. Here is why:

Numeric is a type of variable that represents a numerical value, such as an integer, a decimal, or a fraction. Numeric variables can be used to store, manipulate, or analyze quantitative data, such as amounts, prices, or scores. For example, numeric variables can be used to perform arithmetic operations or calculations on the data, or to measure the central tendency or the dispersion of the data.

Alphanumeric is a type of variable that represents a combination of alphabetic and numeric characters, such as letters, numbers, symbols, or spaces. Alphanumeric variables can be used to store, manipulate, or analyze textual data, such as names, addresses, or codes. For example, alphanumeric variables can be used to concatenate or split the data, or to search or match the data using patterns or expressions.

Text is a type of variable that represents a sequence of alphabetic characters, such as letters or words. Text variables can be used to store, manipulate, or analyze textual data, such as names, categories, or labels. For example, text variables can be used to change the case or the length of the data, or to compare or classify the data using criteria or rules.

This is because inconsistency is a type of data quality issue that occurs when the data does not follow a common format, structure, or rule across different sources or systems, which can affect the efficiency and performance of the analysis or process. Inconsistency can be caused by having different spellings, punctuations, capitalizations, or abbreviations for the same or similar values in a data set, such as “M”, “m”, “Male”, or “male” for gender in this case. Inconsistency can be eliminated or reduced by using data cleansing techniques, such as standardizing or normalizing the data values. The other options are not correct descriptions of the data set. Here is why:

Data bias is a type of data quality issue that occurs when the data is not representative or proportional of the population or the parameter, which can affect the validity and reliability of the analysis or process. Data bias can be caused by having a sample that is too small, too large, or too skewed for the population or the parameter, such as having only male customers for a product that targets both genders in this case. Data bias can be eliminated or reduced by using sampling techniques, such as stratified or cluster sampling.

The data is incomplete is a type of data quality issue that occurs when the data is absent or missing in a data set, which can affect the accuracy and reliability of the analysis or process. The data is incomplete can be caused by various factors, such as human error, system error, or non-response. The data is incomplete can be addressed by using various methods, such as replacing or imputing the missing values with some reasonable estimates, such as mean, median, mode, or regression.

The data is outliers is a type of data quality issue that occurs when the data has values that are unusually high or low compared to the rest of the data set, which can affect the quality and validity of the analysis or process. The data is outliers can be caused by various factors, such as measurement error, natural variation, or extreme events. The data is outliers can be addressed by using various methods, such as removing or filtering out the outliers, or using robust statistics that are less sensitive to outliers, such as median, interquartile range, or box plot.

Explanation

The correct answer is B: Derived variables Derived variables are variables that you create by calculating or categorizing variables that already exist in your data set.

Data merge is incorrect. Data merging is the process of combining two or more data sets into a single data set. Data blending is incorrect.

Data blending involves pulling data from different sources and creating a single, unique, dataset for visualization and analysis.

Data append is incorrect. A data append is a process that involves adding new data elements to an existing database.

Unsupervised data mining techniques are used to identify hidden patterns or intrinsic structures in data without prior labels or classifications. Among the options provided,clusteringis a primary unsupervised learning method.

Option A:Clustering

Rationale:Clustering involves grouping a set of objects in such a way that objects in the same group (or cluster) are more similar to each other than to those in other groups. This technique is unsupervised because it doesn't rely on predefined labels and is used to discover natural groupings within data.

Explanation

Correct answer B. Data steward.

A data steward is responsible for leading an organization's data governance activities, which include data quality, security, privacy, and regulatory compliance.

Customer segmentation is a type of cluster analysis, which is a method of grouping data points based on their similarities or differences. Cluster analysis can help identify patterns and trends in the data, as well as target specific groups of customers for marketing purposes. One common technique for customer segmentation is RFM analysis, which stands for recency, frequency, and monetary value. This technique assigns a score to each customer based on how recently they bought the product, how often they buy the product, and how much they spend on the product. These scores can then be used to create clusters of customers with different characteristics and preferences. Therefore, the correct answer is D. References: Cluster Analysis - Statistics Solutions, RFM Analysis: The Ultimate Guide for Customer Segmentation

 In technical documentation, a glossary is the designated section where definitions for technical terms are provided. It serves as a reference point for readers to understand specialized or uncommon words used within the document. Including descriptions of technical terms in a glossary ensures that readers have a consistent resource to refer to, which can improve comprehension and reduce misunderstandings12.

A system diagram (Option B) is a visual representation of the system’s components and their interactions, not a place for defining terms. User requirements (Option C) outline what end-users expect from the system, and an index (Option D) is an alphabetical list of topics covered in the document, usually with page numbers, but not definitions.

Based on the query logic provided: Order_Total > 132 OR (Order Total >= 25 AND Order_Total < 74), we can manually determine which order totals fit this criteria. By examining the image, these are the Order_Total values that match:

132.49 (greater than 132)

108.99 (greater than or equal to 25 and less than 74)

96.19 (greater than or equal to 25 and less than 74)

74.49 (greater than or equal to 25 and less than 74)

41.99 (greater than or equal to 25 and less than 74)

31.29 (greater than or equal to 25 and less than 74)

Thus, six orders satisfy the given conditions.

The date on which the report was run. This is because the time period the report covers and the date on which the report was run are two components that need to be added to ensure the report is point-in-time and static, which means that the report shows the data as it was at a specific moment or interval in time, and does not change or update with new data. By adding the time period the report covers and the date on which the report was run, the analyst can indicate when and for how long the data was collected and analyzed, as well as avoid any confusion or ambiguity about the currency or validity of the data. The other components do not need to be added to ensure the report is point-in-time and static. Here is why:

A control group for the phrases is a type of group that serves as a baseline or a reference for comparison with another group that is exposed to some treatment or intervention, such as a target phrase in this case. A control group for the phrases does not need to be added to ensure the report is point-in-time and static, because it does not affect the time frame or the stability of the data. However, a control group for the phrases could be useful for evaluating the effectiveness or impact of the target phrases on customer satisfaction or retention.

A summary of the KPIs is a type of document that provides an overview or a highlight of the key performance indicators (KPIs), which are measurable values that indicate how well an organizationor a process is achieving its goals or objectives. A summary of the KPIs does not need to be added to ensure the report is point-in-time and static, because it does not affect the time frame or the stability of the data. However, a summary of the KPIs could be useful for communicating or presenting the main findings or insights from the report.

Filter buttons for the status are a type of feature or function that allows users to select or deselect certain values or categories in a column or a table, such as ticket statuses in this case. Filter buttons for the status do not need to be added to ensure the report is point-in-time and static, because they do not affect the time frame or the stability of the data. However, filter buttons for the status could be useful for exploring or analyzing different aspects or segments of the data.

In the context of financial systems and reporting tools, ensuring high data quality is paramount. The most critical dimensions of data quality in this scenario include:

Option B:Data accuracy

Rationale:Data accuracy refers to the correctness and precision of the data. In financial systems, inaccurate data can lead to erroneous reports, affecting decision-making and potentially leading to financial losses. Ensuring that data accurately reflects real-world values is essential.

Option E:Data completeness

Rationale:Data completeness ensures that all necessary data is present and accounted for. Missing data can result in incomplete analyses and reports, which can misinform stakeholders and lead to suboptimal decisions.

Option F:Data consistency

Rationale:Data consistency involves maintaining uniformity and coherence of data across different systems and reports. Inconsistent data can cause discrepancies in financial reporting, undermining trust in the data and leading to confusion.

Data aggregation is the process of compiling data from multiple sources and summarizing it into a single dataset. Data aggregation can be used to calculate statistics, such as averages, sums, counts, or percentages. In this case, the analyst must obtain the average daily sales for the following week, which is a statistic that can be calculated by aggregating the sales data from each day and dividing by the number of days. Data aggregation can be done using various tools and methods, such as spreadsheets, databases, or programming languages.

This is because the price of the Rose unit can be estimated using the average cost per square foot of the original floor plans, which are Jasmine, Orchid, Azalea, and Tulip. To find the average cost per square foot of the original floor plans, we can use the following formula:

Plugging in the values from the original floor plans, we get:

To find the price of the Rose unit, we can use the following formula:

Plugging in the values from the Rose unit, we get:

Therefore, the price of the Rose unit should be $705,200, using the average cost per square foot of the original floor plans.

Machine data is the most likely type of data to be streamed live, as it refers to data generated by machines or devices, such as sensors, web servers, network devices, etc. Machine data is often produced continuously and in large volumes, requiring real-time processing and analysis. Other types of data, such as key-value pairs, delimited rows, and flat files, are more likely to be stored in databases or files and processed in batches.

Data governance refers to the overarching management of data’s availability, usability, integrity, and security within an organization. It involves setting policies and standards that govern data usage, determining data ownership, implementing data security measures, and ensuring that data is accessible for business insights while maintaining its quality. The goal of data governance is to ensure that data is consistent, trustworthy, and not misused, supporting compliance with data privacy regulations and enabling effective data analytics to optimize operations and drive business decision-making.

The logical statement that results in Table B is Option D. Option D is a logical statement that uses the AND operator to combine two conditions: Name = “Tom” and Region = “BC”. The AND operator returns true only if both conditions are true, otherwise it returns false. Therefore, Option D will select only the rows from Table A that satisfy both conditions, which are rows 4, 5, 6, and 7. These rows form Table B, as shown below:

Name | Gender flag | Level | College | Code | Region Tom | Male | Elementary | A | BC | BC Kim | Female | Elementary | A | BC | BC Pat | Female | Elementary | A | BC | BC Ben | Male | Elementary | A | BC | BC

The other options are not correct, as they use different logical operators or conditions that do not result in Table B. Option A uses the OR operator, which returns true if either condition is true, or both. Option A will select all the rows from Table A except row 3, which does not match either condition. Option B uses the NOT operator, which returns the opposite of the condition. Option B will select all the rows from Table A except rows 4, 5, 6, and 7, which match the condition. Option C uses a different condition, Region = “ON”, which does not match any row in Table A. Option C will select no rows from Table A. Reference: [SQL Logical Operators - W3Schools]

A drill-down function allows users to start with a high-level summary of the data and then click through to see more detailed layers of information. This feature is particularly useful in business intelligence and reporting systems, as it provides executives with a broad overview while enabling managers to explore specific data points relevant to their regions or operations​.

The best format to deliver this report is D. A dashboard with filters at the top that the user can toggle.

A dashboard is a visual display of the most important information needed to achieve one or more objectives, consolidated and arranged on a single screen so the information can be monitored at a glance1A dashboard with filters at the top that the user can toggle would allow the user to easily and quickly access the information they need about various regions, products, and time periods, without having to navigate through multiple tabs, pages, or emails. A dashboard with filters would also enable the user to compare and contrast different views of the data and see how they change over time.A dashboard with filters would also be more interactive and engaging than a static or email report2

A workbook with multiple tabs for each region would not be an efficient way to deliver this report, because it would require the user to switch between different tabs to see the information they need. This would make it harder to compare and contrast different regions, products, and time periods, and also increase the risk of errors or confusion.A workbook with multiple tabs would also be less visually appealing and more cluttered than a dashboard3

A daily email with snapshots of regional summaries would not be an efficient way to deliver this report, because it would limit the user’s ability to explore the data in depth and customize their view. A daily email would also be dependent on the frequency and timing of the email delivery, which might not match the user’s needs or preferences. A daily email would also be more likely to be ignored or deleted than a dashboard that is always accessible.

A static report with a different page for every filtered view would not be an efficient way to deliver this report, because it would create a very long and cumbersome report that would be difficult to read and understand. A static report would also not allow the user to change or update the filters as they wish, or see how the data changes over time. A static report would also be less interactive and engaging than a dashboard.

This is because a chi-squared test is a type of statistical method that tests the association or independence between two or more categorical variables, such as gender, race, or occupation. A chi-squared test can be used to compare the observed frequencies of the categories with the expected frequencies under the null hypothesis of no association or independence. For example, a chi-squared test can be used to determine if there is a relationship between smoking and lung cancer. The other statistical methods do not require two or more categorical variables. Here is why:

Simple linear regression is a type of statistical method that models the relationship between a continuous dependent variable and a continuous or categorical independent variable, such as height, weight, or education level. A simple linear regression can be used to estimate the slope and intercept of the best-fitting line that describes how the dependent variable changes with the independent variable. For example, a simple linear regression can be used to predict the weight of a person based on their height.

Z-test is a type of statistical method that tests the significance of the difference between a sample mean and a population mean, or between two sample means, when the population standard deviation or the sample sizes are large enough. A z-test can be used to compare the average scores of two groups of students on a standardized test.

Two-sample t-test is a type of statistical method that tests the significance of the difference between two sample means when the population standard deviation is unknown or the sample sizes are small. A two-sample t-test can be used to compare the average salaries of two groups of employees in different departments.

The option that the data analyst should use to best communicate the information to the manager is a summary with statistics, conclusions, and recommendations from the data analyst. A summary is a concise and clear way of presenting the main findings and insights from the data analysis report. A summary should include relevant statistics that support the conclusions and recommendations from the data analyst. A summary should also highlight the most important KPIs and measure the return on marketing investment in relation to the objectives of the online marketing campaign. The other options are not as effective as using a summary to communicate the information to the manager, as they either provide too much or too little information or do not address the manager’s needs or expectations. A real-time monitor may provide too much information that can be overwhelming or distracting for the manager who wants to see only the most important KPIs and measure the return on marketing investment. A self-service dashboard may provide too little information that can be insufficient or unclear for the manager who wants to see some guidance and interpretation from the data analyst. A spreadsheet of raw data may provide irrelevant or inaccurate information that can be confusing or misleading for the manager who wants to see some analysis and insights from the data analyst. Reference: [How to Write an Executive Summary for Your Data Analysis Report - Towards Data Science]

After conducting a review of the business questions, the next step for the analyst is to determine the data needs and sources for analysis. This involves identifying the relevant data elements, variables, and metrics that are required to answer the business questions, as well as the data sources, formats, and quality that are available to access and use. This step will help the analyst to plan the data collection, preparation, and integration processes, as well as to assess the feasibility and limitations of the analysis1.

The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set. In the provided data set, the number 7 appears three times, which is more than any other number. Therefore, the mode of this data set is 7.

3 appears twice, but less frequently than 7.

5 and 10 each appear only once, so they cannot be the mode.

Parsing is the data manipulation technique that should be used to separate the column into multiple columns for each component of the name. Parsing is the process of breaking down a string of text into smaller units, such as words, symbols, or numbers. Parsing can be used to extract specific information from a text column, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, etc. Parsing can also be used to split a text column into multiple columns based on a delimiter, such as a comma, space, or dash1. In this case, the analyst can use parsing to split the column by the comma delimiter and create three new columns: one for the last name, one for the first name, and one for the middle initial. This will make the data more organized and easier to analyze.

The standard deviation is a measure of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values. It is calculated as the square root of the variance. Given that the variance for the data set is 36 gallons, the standard deviation can be found by taking the square root of 36, which is 6. Therefore, the standard deviation for the number of gallons of oil produced each day is 6 gallons.

The best type of chart to display the data is D. Include a column chart using the site and sales to average sales per customer.

A column chart is a good choice for comparing categorical data with numerical data, such as the site and sales to average sales per customer. A column chart can show the relative differences between the sites and highlight the site with the highest sales volume per customer. A column chart can also be easily labeled and formatted to make the data clear and understandable.

A line chart is not suitable for this data, because it is used to show trends or changes over time, which is not relevant for the site and sales to average sales per customer data. A line chart would also be confusing and misleading, as it would imply a connection or correlation between the sites that does not exist.

A pie chart is also not a good choice for this data, because it is used to show the proportion of a whole, not the comparison of different categories. A pie chart would also be difficult to read and interpret, as it would require labels or legends to identify the sites and their sales to average sales per customer. A pie chart would also not be able to show the exact values of the sales to average sales per customer, only their relative sizes.

A scatter chart is another inappropriate option for this data, because it is used to show the relationship or correlation between two numerical variables, not between a categorical and a numerical variable. A scatter chart would also be cluttered and unclear, as it would plot each site as a point on a coordinate plane, without any labels or axes. A scatter chart would also not be able to show the differences or rankings between the sites and their sales to average sales per customer.

Answer: B. Ordinary least squares

Ordinary least squares (OLS) is a type of linear regression that is used to fit a regression model that describes the relationship between one or more predictor variables and a numeric response variable. Use when: The relationship between the predictor variable(s) and the response variable is reasonably linear.The response variable is a continuous numeric variable1.

In this case, the data analyst is interested in understanding how ice cream consumption (the response variable) is affected by different attributes, such as cost, temperature, and income level (the predictor variables). Assuming that these variables have a linear relationship, OLS can be used to estimate the coefficients of the regression equation that best fits the data.OLS can also provide measures of goodness-of-fit, such as R-squared and adjusted R-squared, and test the significance of the coefficients using t-tests and F-tests2.

Option A is incorrect, as logistic regression is used to fit a regression model that describes the relationship between one or more predictor variables and a binary response variable.Use when: The response variable is binary – it can only take on two values1. Ice cream consumption is not a binary variable, but rather a continuous numeric variable.

Option C is incorrect, as Cox regression is used to fit a regression model that describes the relationship between one or more predictor variables and a survival time response variable.Use when: The response variable is the time until an event of interest occurs, such as death, failure, or recovery3. Ice cream consumption is not a survival time variable, but rather a continuous numeric variable.

Option D is incorrect, as polynomial regression is used to fit a regression model that describes the relationship between one or more predictor variables and a numeric response variable.Use when: The relationship between the predictor variable(s) and the response variable is non-linear1. If there is no evidence of non-linearity in the data, polynomial regression may not be appropriate, as it may overfit the data and produce unreliable estimates.

A low standard deviation in survey responses indicates that the data points tend to be close to the mean, suggesting a high level of consistency among the responses. This consistency is crucial for determining the reliability of the data set and predicting future outcomes. If the standard deviation is low, it means that the positive feedback is not only high but also consistent, making it a reliable indicator of customer satisfaction and a good predictor of how a larger sample might respond.

A CSV file is a type of flat file that stores data as plain text in a table-like structure with rows and columns. Each row represents a single record, while columns represent fields or attributes of the data. A CSV file uses commas or other delimiters to separate the values in each row. A CSV file can be easily imported or exported by various applications and programs12

The RefNo column contains values that consist solely of digits without any alphabetical characters or special symbols, indicating a numeric data type.

When you want a “snapshot” of a data set in terms of basic measures of central tendency, you are usually looking at:

Mean (average)

Median (middle value)

Mode (most frequent value)

These are classic components of descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics provide summary measures that describe:

Central tendency (mean, median, mode)

Dispersion (range, variance, standard deviation)

Sometimes shape (skewness, kurtosis)

Other options:

Forecasting focuses on predicting future values (often using time series models).

Trend analysis looks at how values change over time (direction and pattern).

Gap analysis compares actual performance vs targets or desired performance.

None of those directly describe the process of computing central tendency summaries. That is exactly what Descriptive statistics (D) are for.

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

CompTIA Data+ Official Exam Objectives – Domain on Data Analysis (describing data using basic statistics).

CompTIA Data+ Official Study Guide – section on descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode).

Explanation

Cross-site Scripting (XSS) is a security vulnerability usually found in websites and/or web applications that accept user input.

XSS is a client-side vulnerability that targets other application users, while SQL injection is a server-side vulnerability that targets the application's database. How do I prevent XSS in PHP? Filter your inputs with a whitelist of allowed characters and use type hints or type casting.

The best type of chart to display the data is A. Include a bar chart using the site and the percentage of new customers data.

A bar chart is a good choice for comparing categorical data with numerical data, such as the site and the percentage of new customers. A bar chart can show the relative differences between the sites and highlight the site with the highest percentage of new customers. A bar chart can also be easily labeled and formatted to make the data clear and understandable.

A line chart is not suitable for this data, because it is used to show trends or changes over time, which is not relevant for the site and the percentage of new customers data. A line chart would also be confusing and misleading, as it would imply a connection or correlation between the sites that does not exist.

A pie chart is also not a good choice for this data, because it is used to show the proportion of a whole, not the comparison of different categories. A pie chart would also be difficult to read and interpret, as it would require labels or legends to identify the sites and their percentages. A pie chart would also not be able to show the exact values of the percentages, only their relative sizes.

A scatter chart is another inappropriate option for this data, because it is used to show the relationship or correlation between two numerical variables, not between a categorical and a numerical variable. A scatter chart would also be cluttered and unclear, as it would plot each site as a point on a coordinate plane, without any labels or axes. A scatter chart would also not be able to show the differences or rankings between the sites and their percentages.

Dashboards are visual tools that provide insights into various aspects of business operations. The type of dashboard developed depends on the intended audience and the nature of information to be conveyed.

Referencing Dashboard: This term is not standard in the context of dashboard types and doesn't correspond to a recognized category.

Strategic Dashboard: Designed for senior management, strategic dashboards provide a high-level overview of key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with the organization's long-term goals. They focus on overall performance and strategic objectives, rather than detailed operational issues.

Operational Dashboard: These dashboards monitor the real-time operations of an organization. They are used to track immediate metrics and processes, allowing teams to respond quickly to issues as they arise. In the context of data pipelines, an operational dashboard would display the current status, including any failures, enabling prompt action to resolve issues.

Technical Dashboard: While this could pertain to dashboards focused on technical metrics, it's not a standard term. Operational dashboards often encompass technical aspects, especially concerning system operations and processes.

Given the need to provide information about failed data pipelines, an Operational Dashboard is most appropriate. It offers real-time monitoring and alerts for immediate issues within data processes, enabling swift identification and resolution of failures.

A point-in-time, static report represents:

Data as it existed at a specific time,

For a specific period,

And does not automatically update when underlying data changes.

To make this clear to readers:

You must show the time period the report covers (E)

e.g., “Q1 2025”, “1 Jan 2025 – 31 Mar 2025”.

This defines the scope of the data summarized in the report.

You must include the date on which the report was run (F)

e.g., “Report generated on: 15 Apr 2025”.

This shows the exact point in time at which the data was extracted and frozen.

Why the other options are not sufficient:

A. Control group for the phrases – is more about experimental design, not about making a report point-in-time.

B. Summary of the KPIs – useful, but does not establish time specificity or static nature.

C. Filter buttons for the status – implies interactivity, sometimes at odds with a static, frozen report.

D. Date when the report was last accessed – relates to user behavior (when someone opened it), not when the data snapshot was taken.

Therefore, to ensure the report is clearly point-in-time and static, you need E (time period covered) and F (date report was run).

CompTIA Data+ Reference (concept alignment):

DA0-001 Exam Objectives – Reporting: point-in-time vs real-time reporting.

CompTIA Data+ reporting best practices: including coverage period and run date to document the time context of reports.

This is because missing data is a type of data quality issue that occurs when data is absent or incomplete in a data set, which can affect the accuracy and reliability of the analysis or process. Missing data can be caused by various factors, such as human error, system error, or non-response. Missing data can be addressed by using various methods, such as replacing missing data, which means filling in or imputing the missing values with some reasonable estimates, such as mean, median, mode, or regression. The other methods are not used to address missing data. Here is why:

Remove duplicate data is a type of method that eliminates or reduces duplicate data, which is a type of data quality issue that occurs when data is repeated or copied in a data set. Removing duplicate data does not address missing data, but rather affects the quantity and validity of the data.

Replace redundant data is a type of method that eliminates or reduces redundant data, which is a type of data quality issue that occurs when data is unnecessary or irrelevant for the analysis or purpose. Replacing redundant data does not address missing data, but rather affects the efficiency and performance of the analysis or process.

Remove invalid data is a type of method that eliminates or reduces invalid data, which is a type of data quality issue that occurs when data is incorrect or inaccurate in a data set. Removing invalid data does not address missing data, but rather affects the validity and reliability of the analysis or process.

A word cloud is an ideal choice for visualizing what employees are searching for on an intranet site. It represents the frequency of word occurrence in a visually impactful way, withmore commonly searched terms appearing larger in the cloud. This allows for quick identification of the most popular queries and topics of interest among employees. Unlike histograms, pie charts, or scatter plots, word clouds can effectively display textual data, which is the nature of search queries. They are particularly useful for analyzing text data from surveys or feedback forms, which can be similar to search query data in an intranet environment1234.

When encountering issues where reports are incomplete or data appears to be missing after ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, it's essential to assess the quality and structure of the data.Data profilingis the process of examining the data available in an existing data source and collecting statistics and information about that data. This practice helps in understanding the data's condition, identifying anomalies, and ensuring that the data conforms to the expected patterns.

Option A:Cross-validation

Rationale:Cross-validation is a statistical method used to estimate the skill of machine learning models. It is primarily used in predictive modeling to assess how the results of a statistical analysis will generalize to an independent dataset. While valuable in model evaluation, it doesn't address issues related to missing or incomplete data in ETL processes.

Option B:Data profiling

Rationale:Data profiling involves analyzing the data for accuracy and completeness. By performing data profiling, analysts can identify missing values, inconsistencies, and anomalies within the dataset. This process is crucial for diagnosing issues that arise during ETL operations, such as incomplete data loads or transformation errors.

The most appropriate frequency for the sales report is weekly, as this will provide the CEO with more up-to-date sales data for improved visibility prior to month-end. A weekly sales report can show the sales performance, trends, and issues of the sales team on a regular basis, and help the CEO to monitor and evaluate the progress and results of the sales activities. A weekly sales report can also help the CEO to identify and address any problems or opportunities that may arise during the month, and to make timely and informed decisions.

When incorporating new customer information from a survey into an existing customer contacts database, the appropriate data manipulation technique is:

Option B:Append

Rationale:Appending involves adding new records to the end of an existing dataset without altering the existing data. In this scenario, the analyst adds the new customer information as additional records in the database.

Option A:Join

Rationale:Joining combines data from two or more tables based on a related column, creating a new dataset with combined information. This is not necessary when simply adding new records.

Option C:Transform

Rationale:Transformation involves changing the format, structure, or values of data. While important in data processing, it doesn't pertain to adding new records.

Option D:Blend

Rationale:Data blending combines data from different sources into a single dataset, often used in analysis rather than updating a database with new records.

Explanation

A Data mart is too narrow, because Taylor needs data from across multiple divisions.

OLAP is a broad term for analytical processing, and OLTP systems are transactional and not ideal for the task. Since Taylor is working with data across multiple different divisions, she will work with a Data warehouse.

The best deliverable that would suit the site reliability team’s needs is A. A self-serve dashboard of website performance that updates in real time.

A self-serve dashboard is a visual display of the most important information needed to achieve one or more objectives, consolidated and arranged on a single screen so the information can be monitored at a glance. A self-serve dashboard of website performance that updates in real time would allow the site reliability team to easily and quickly access the information they need about the stability of their website, such as uptime, response time, error rate, traffic volume, etc. A self-serve dashboard would also enable the team to proactively diagnose issues when they occur, by providing alerts, notifications, or drill-down options. A self-serve dashboard would also be more interactive and engaging than a report or an email.

A weekly log report of site visits and user actions would not be a good deliverable for the site reliability team’s needs, because it would not provide timely or relevant information about the stability of their website. A weekly log report would be too infrequent and delayed to monitor and diagnose issues when they occur. A weekly log report would also focus on the behavior and actions of the users, rather than the performance and functionality of the website.

A portal that is refreshed daily and reports errors classified by type would not be a good deliverable for the site reliability team’s needs, because it would not provide real-time or comprehensive information about the stability of their website. A portal that is refreshed daily would be too slow and outdated to monitor and diagnose issues when they occur. A portal that reports errors classified by type would be too narrow and limited to capture the full picture of the website performance.

A daily summary email indicating website outages for the previous day would not be a good deliverable for the site reliability team’s needs, because it would not provide real-time or actionable information about the stability of their website. A daily summary email would be too late and retrospective to monitor and diagnose issues when they occur. A daily summary email indicating website outages would also be too passive and generic to help the team resolve or prevent issues in the future.

A summary with statistics, conclusions, and recommendations from the data analyst is the best way to communicate the results of an online marketing campaign to the marketing manager. A summary can provide a concise and clear overview of the most important KPIs and measure the return on marketing investment, as well as highlight the main findings and insights from the data analysis. A summary can also include actionable suggestions and best practices for improving the campaign performance and achieving the marketing objectives. A summary is different from other options, such as a real-time monitor, a self-service dashboard, or a spreadsheet of raw data, which may not provide enough context, interpretation, or guidance for the manager. Therefore, the correct answer is D. References: How to Write a Data Analysis Report: 6 Essential Tips, How to Write a Marketing Report (with Pictures) - wikiHow