- A
Split the column by delimiter and keep the numeric part, then change data type.
Why wrong: Splitting by delimiter is unnecessary and may lose data if the format varies.
- B
Change data type to Decimal Number directly; Power Query will automatically clean the values.
Why wrong: Power Query does not automatically clean text containing symbols; it will return an error.
- C
Use Replace Values to remove '$' and ',', then change data type to Decimal Number.
Removing specific characters is a direct and efficient method; however, a more robust approach is to use Text.Select to keep only digits and the decimal point, but Replace Values is simplest given the known characters.
- D
Use Replace Values to remove '$' and ',' then change data type to Decimal.
Why wrong: This works but is less efficient than using Replace Text with a non-numeric removal approach; also, it requires two Replace Values steps.
PL-300 Prepare the data Practice Question
This PL-300 practice question tests your understanding of prepare the data. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
You are transforming data in Power Query. A column named 'SalesAmount' contains values as text with a dollar sign and thousands separator, e.g., "$1,234.56". You need to convert this column to a decimal number for analysis. What is the most efficient sequence of transformations?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use Replace Values to remove '$' and ',', then change data type to Decimal Number.
Option C is correct because it explicitly removes both the dollar sign and the comma before changing the data type, ensuring that Power Query can interpret the cleaned text as a decimal number without errors. Directly changing the data type (Option B) would fail because Power Query cannot automatically parse currency symbols and thousands separators from text. Option A is inefficient because splitting the column is unnecessary when simple replacements suffice. Option D is identical to C but omits the comma removal, which would leave the thousands separator and cause conversion failures.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Split the column by delimiter and keep the numeric part, then change data type.
Why it's wrong here
Splitting by delimiter is unnecessary and may lose data if the format varies.
- ✗
Change data type to Decimal Number directly; Power Query will automatically clean the values.
Why it's wrong here
Power Query does not automatically clean text containing symbols; it will return an error.
- ✓
Use Replace Values to remove '$' and ',', then change data type to Decimal Number.
Why this is correct
Removing specific characters is a direct and efficient method; however, a more robust approach is to use Text.Select to keep only digits and the decimal point, but Replace Values is simplest given the known characters.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Replace Values to remove '$' and ',' then change data type to Decimal.
Why it's wrong here
This works but is less efficient than using Replace Text with a non-numeric removal approach; also, it requires two Replace Values steps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume Power Query's automatic type detection or direct data type change can handle currency symbols and separators, but in reality, it requires explicit cleaning steps to avoid errors or incorrect conversions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Power Query's type conversion uses the locale settings of the current environment, but it does not strip non-numeric characters like '$' or ',' automatically. The Replace Values transformation in Power Query is case-sensitive and operates on the entire cell value, making it ideal for removing fixed characters. In real-world scenarios, currency columns often include varying symbols and separators, so a robust approach might also use Text.Select to keep only digits and the decimal point, but Replace Values is the most straightforward for known fixed characters.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PL-300 question test?
Prepare the data — This question tests Prepare the data — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Replace Values to remove '$' and ',', then change data type to Decimal Number. — Option C is correct because it explicitly removes both the dollar sign and the comma before changing the data type, ensuring that Power Query can interpret the cleaned text as a decimal number without errors. Directly changing the data type (Option B) would fail because Power Query cannot automatically parse currency symbols and thousands separators from text. Option A is inefficient because splitting the column is unnecessary when simple replacements suffice. Option D is identical to C but omits the comma removal, which would leave the thousands separator and cause conversion failures.
What should I do if I get this PL-300 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This PL-300 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 PL-300 exam.
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