PCA Promql Practice Question
Which THREE of the following functions can be used with counter metrics to calculate rates or increases? (Choose three)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
irate()
Counters can be used with rate(), irate(), and increase() functions (among others like delta() for gauges, though delta is technically for gauges, increase is for counters).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
predict_linear()
Why it's wrong here
predict_linear() is intended for gauge metrics.
- ✓
irate()
Why this is correct
irate() calculates the instantaneous rate of increase for counters.
- ✗
deriv()
Why it's wrong here
deriv() is intended for gauge metrics using linear regression.
- ✓
rate()
Why this is correct
rate() calculates the per-second rate of increase for counters.
- ✓
increase()
Why this is correct
increase() calculates the total increase of a counter over a time range.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official CNCF / Linux Foundation exam blueprint
This PCA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF / Linux Foundation certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCA exam.