The idea, step by step
Record as you collect
A list keeps every answer. A tally table groups matching answers as they arrive. Make one tally mark for each response. Five marks are usually shown as four upright marks crossed by a fifth.
Do not rely on memory. Record an answer before asking the next person, and never count the same person twice.
Write the frequencies
Frequency means how often an answer occurs. Count each group of tally marks, then write the frequency. Add the frequencies to check against the number of responses.
Keep a category with no responses if it was one of the choices. Its frequency is 0, not 1.
| Pet | Children |
|---|---|
| Dog | 5 |
| Cat | 4 |
| Fish | 3 |
A common trap
A full group of five tally marks is one vote.
Instead: That group records five votes. Grouping makes counting faster; it does not change the number of responses.
See the thinking
A list becomes counts
The answers are dog, cat, dog, fish, cat, dog. Find the frequency of each pet.
- Dog appears 3 times.
- Cat appears 2 times and fish appears 1 time.
- Check: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 responses.
Complete a table
Ten children vote for a game. Tag has 4 votes and skipping has 3. The rest choose handball. Find the handball count.
- The recorded counts total 4 + 3 = 7.
- 10 − 7 = 3.
Check your understanding
A table shows 4 red, 3 blue and 2 green votes. How many votes are recorded?
Show answer
9 votes.
4 + 3 + 2 = 9.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- Count the red answers: red, blue, red, green, red, blue.
- Use this list: red, blue, red, green, red, blue. Give the blue and green counts.
- A tally record has five marks in one group and three extra marks. What is its frequency?
- The frequencies are 5, 4 and 3. Find the total.
- Eight children answer a survey, but its table contains counts 3, 3 and 1. What is wrong?
- Of 15 children, 6 choose drawing and 5 choose reading. The rest choose puzzles. Find the puzzle count.
Read the worked solutions
- Count the red answers: red, blue, red, green, red, blue.
Red appears in positions 1, 3 and 5.
3. - Use this list: red, blue, red, green, red, blue. Give the blue and green counts.
Count each answer once.
Blue 2; green 1. - A tally record has five marks in one group and three extra marks. What is its frequency?
5 + 3 = 8.
8. - The frequencies are 5, 4 and 3. Find the total.
5 + 4 + 3 = 12.
12. - Eight children answer a survey, but its table contains counts 3, 3 and 1. What is wrong?
3 + 3 + 1 = 7, not 8.
Only 7 responses are recorded, so a response is missing or a count is wrong. - Of 15 children, 6 choose drawing and 5 choose reading. The rest choose puzzles. Find the puzzle count.
6 + 5 = 11.
15 − 11 = 4.
4 children.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 / South Australian Curriculum
Categorical/count data; recording; displays; comparisons; guided question-to-conclusion investigation.
Official curriculum source ↗