Counts per minute (CPM) is a measurement used to quantify the number of occurrences of an event within a minute. It is commonly used in various fields, such as healthcare for monitoring heart rate or in radiology to measure the activity of radioactive materials. By calculating CPM, professionals can assess the frequency of specific events over time. In practical terms, if a device records 120 counts in one minute, it has a CPM of 120. This metric helps in analyzing data trends and making informed decisions based on the frequency of occurrences, whether in medical diagnostics or scientific research.