The idea, step by step
Use numbers as evidence
Read the counts before making a claim. “Apple has 6 votes and banana has 4, so apple has 2 more” gives evidence for the comparison.
Equal columns show equal counts. A category with zero responses should be clearly labelled rather than silently left unclear.
| Fruit | Children |
|---|---|
| Apple | 6 |
| Banana | 4 |
| Orange | 2 |
Be careful with conclusions
A survey of one class describes that class at that time. It does not describe every child in Australia. A new question or another group may produce different results.
Check group sizes when comparing classes. A larger class may have more votes just because more children answered. Say what the counts show and explain any limit.
| Game | Class A | Class B |
|---|---|---|
| Tag | 8 | 6 |
| Skipping | 4 | 6 |
A common trap
The largest category tells us what everyone chose.
Instead: Read all the counts. A largest category can still leave many people in other categories.
See the thinking
How many more?
Use the fruit table. How many more choose apple than orange?
- Apple has 6 votes; orange has 2.
- 6 − 2 = 4.
A tie
Class B has 6 votes for Tag and 6 for Skipping. Explain the result.
- The two counts are equal.
- Neither game has more votes.
Check your understanding
There are 7 dog votes and 4 cat votes. How many more dog votes are there?
Show answer
3 more votes.
7 − 4 = 3.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- Which fruit has the most votes in the supplied table?
Sample data: Fruit choices Fruit Children Apple 6 Banana 4 Orange 2 - How many more chose banana than orange?
Sample data: Fruit choices Fruit Children Apple 6 Banana 4 Orange 2 - Cricket has 5 votes, Soccer has 5 and Tennis has 3. Which choices are tied?
- A child reads the fruit table and says, “Everyone chose apple.” Explain the error.
Sample data: Fruit choices Fruit Children Apple 6 Banana 4 Orange 2 - Class A has 8 Tag votes from 12 children. Class B has 9 from 24 children. Does 9 being larger prove Tag is a stronger favourite in B?
- Write one comparison using numbers from the supplied travel table.
Sample data: Travel choices Way Children Walk 6 Car 5 Bus 3
Read the worked solutions
- Which fruit has the most votes in the supplied table?
Sample data: Fruit choices Fruit Children Apple 6 Banana 4 Orange 2 6 is greater than 4 and 2.
Apple. - How many more chose banana than orange?
Sample data: Fruit choices Fruit Children Apple 6 Banana 4 Orange 2 4 − 2 = 2.
2 more. - Cricket has 5 votes, Soccer has 5 and Tennis has 3. Which choices are tied?
Both have 5 votes.
Cricket and Soccer. - A child reads the fruit table and says, “Everyone chose apple.” Explain the error.
Sample data: Fruit choices Fruit Children Apple 6 Banana 4 Orange 2 The largest group is not the whole group.
Four children chose banana and two chose orange, so not everyone chose apple. - Class A has 8 Tag votes from 12 children. Class B has 9 from 24 children. Does 9 being larger prove Tag is a stronger favourite in B?
Class B has twice as many children.
No. The class sizes are different and must be considered. - Write one comparison using numbers from the supplied travel table.
Sample data: Travel choices Way Children Walk 6 Car 5 Bus 3 Use two actual counts to support the comparison.
For example: 6 children walked and 3 used the bus, so 3 more walked. Other accurate comparisons are valid.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 / South Australian Curriculum
Categorical/count data; recording; displays; comparisons; guided question-to-conclusion investigation.
Official curriculum source ↗