The idea, step by step
Frequency is a count
A category's frequency is how many times it occurs. We can simply call this its count.
Compare the counts, not the length of a category name. More dots mean more votes when the key is one to one.
Equal counts can tie
Two categories can have the same count. They are tied; neither has more.
Say whose data you are describing. Six children's fruit choices do not tell us every child's favourite fruit.
| Travel | Children |
|---|---|
| Walk | 3 |
| Bike | 3 |
| Bus | 1 |
A common trap
There must always be exactly one most popular category.
Instead: Categories can tie if they have equal highest counts.
See the thinking
Compare fruits
Which fruit received the most votes, and how many more than pear?
| Fruit | Votes |
|---|---|
| Apple | 3 |
| Banana | 2 |
| Pear | 1 |
- Apple has 3 votes and pear has 1.
- 3 minus 1 is 2.
A tied result
Did more children walk or ride bikes to the park?
| Travel | Children |
|---|---|
| Walk | 3 |
| Bike | 3 |
| Bus | 1 |
- Read the two counts.
- Three equals three.
Check your understanding
A display has 4 blue, 2 red and 0 green votes. Which colour has the fewest votes?
Show answer
Green.
Zero is less than two or four.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- Which fruit has the fewest votes in the table?
Favourite fruit: one choice from each of six children. Fruit Votes Apple 3 Banana 2 Pear 1 - How many more apple votes than banana votes are there?
Favourite fruit: one choice from each of six children. Fruit Votes Apple 3 Banana 2 Pear 1 - In the travel table, which two categories tie?
How seven children travelled to a park. Travel Children Walk 3 Bike 3 Bus 1 - How many travel responses are recorded altogether?
How seven children travelled to a park. Travel Children Walk 3 Bike 3 Bus 1 - Is this true for the fruit table: Every child chose apple? Explain.
Favourite fruit: one choice from each of six children. Fruit Votes Apple 3 Banana 2 Pear 1 - Write one true comparison about the colour display.
Read the worked solutions
- Which fruit has the fewest votes in the table?
Favourite fruit: one choice from each of six children. Fruit Votes Apple 3 Banana 2 Pear 1 One is the smallest count.
Pear. - How many more apple votes than banana votes are there?
Favourite fruit: one choice from each of six children. Fruit Votes Apple 3 Banana 2 Pear 1 3 - 2 = 1.
1 more. - In the travel table, which two categories tie?
How seven children travelled to a park. Travel Children Walk 3 Bike 3 Bus 1 Each has 3 children.
Walk and bike. - How many travel responses are recorded altogether?
How seven children travelled to a park. Travel Children Walk 3 Bike 3 Bus 1 3 + 3 + 1 = 7.
7. - Is this true for the fruit table: Every child chose apple? Explain.
Favourite fruit: one choice from each of six children. Fruit Votes Apple 3 Banana 2 Pear 1 Only 3 of the 6 recorded children chose apple; banana and pear also have votes.
No. - Write one true comparison about the colour display.
Check the counts blue 4, red 2, green 0.
Answers vary: blue has more votes than red; green has none; blue has 2 more than red.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 / SA Curriculum 2026
Year 1 categorical questions, response collection, lists, one-to-one displays and comparison of frequencies.
Official curriculum source ↗