Which of the following is true regarding descriptive analytics?

Descriptive analytics is fundamentally centered on summarizing historical data to provide insights into past events. Its primary function is to answer questions like "what happened" and "why it happened" by analyzing data that has already been collected. This type of analytics involves the use of various statistical tools and techniques to interpret and present data, which aids organizations in understanding trends, patterns, and anomalies that have occurred over a specific timeframe. By leveraging descriptive analytics, businesses can gain valuable insights into their performance and make informed decisions based on historical evidence.

This option captures the essence of descriptive analytics in a way that aligns with its role in business intelligence, distinguishing it from other types of analytics that focus on predictions or qualitative assessments.