DA0-002 Data Analysis Practice Question
A dataset contains a feature with values ranging from 10 to 1000. The analyst applies min-max normalization to scale the feature between 0 and 1. What is the normalized value of 520?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is using the maximum value (1000) as the denominator instead of the range (max - min = 990), which leads to option B or D.
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
✓
0.515
Min-max normalization scales values using the formula (x - min) / (max - min). With min=10 and max=1000, the normalized value of 520 is (520 - 10) / (1000 - 10) = 510 / 990 = 0.51515..., which rounds to 0.515. Option A correctly applies this formula.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
0.515
Why this is correct
Min-max normalisation applies (x − min) / (max − min), giving (520 − 10) / (1000 − 10) = 510 / 990 = 0.515. This satisfies the stem's constraint of scaling the 10–1000 range onto 0–1, correctly mapping 520 to 0.515.
- ✗
0.510
Why it's wrong here
Min-max normalization maps each value using (x − min) / (max − min), giving (520 − 10) / (1000 − 10) = 510 / 990 ≈ 0.515, not 0.510. The value 0.510 is tempting because it resembles a plausible mid-range result, but it corresponds to a different minimum or range, such as 10 to 1010.
- ✗
0.480
Why it's wrong here
Min-max normalization maps 520 using (520−10)/(1000−10), which equals 0.515, not 0.480. The value 0.480 would arise from dividing 520 by 1000, ignoring the minimum offset entirely. It is tempting because it resembles a plausible scaled proportion, but that shortcut is percentage-of-maximum, not min-max scaling.
- ✗
0.520
Why it's wrong here
Min-max normalisation maps 520 to (520−10)/(1000−10) ≈ 0.515, not 0.520. The value 0.520 merely echoes the raw digits divided by 1000, ignoring the minimum offset and range. Dividing by the maximum alone describes decimal scaling, which would be correct only if the feature's minimum were zero.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.