DA0-002 Data Analysis Practice Question
A data scientist is analyzing a dataset with multiple features and wants to apply k-means clustering to segment customers. She chooses k = 4 based on the elbow method. During the iteration process, which of the following correctly describes a step in the k-means algorithm?
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
✓
Assign each point to the nearest centroid based on Euclidean distance, then update centroids as the mean of points in each cluster.
K-means iteratively assigns each point to the nearest centroid, then recalculates centroids as the mean of points in the cluster.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Compute the covariance matrix and use principal components to initialize centroids.
Why it's wrong here
This is not part of the standard k-means algorithm.
- ✗
Use hierarchical clustering to determine initial centroids.
Why it's wrong here
K-means typically uses random initialization; hierarchical is separate.
- ✗
Randomly assign centroids and then compute distances to the cluster medians.
Why it's wrong here
K-means uses means, not medians.
- ✓
Assign each point to the nearest centroid based on Euclidean distance, then update centroids as the mean of points in each cluster.
Why this is correct
This is the standard k-means iteration.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 986 original DA0-002 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DA0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 DA0-002 exam.