6.

3 Using frequency tables

FREQUENCY TABLES

Use these five basic steps to organise data into frequency tables.

TASK 1 Create a table using quantitative discrete data

12 18 14 12 19 16 19 19 14 19
A class scored these marks in a geography test.
18 16 18 18 12 12 20 17 18 19
Create a frequency table by following these steps.
19 16 16 15 12 12 16 18 15 15

Step 1: Find the range of the marks.

The lowest mark is ______ and the highest mark is ______

Step 2: Enter the possible marks from the lowest to the highest.
Frequency table: Class marks for geography test

Mark Tally Frequency

Total =

Step 3: Complete the tally columns.

Tally the marks, crossing off each mark as you put the stroke in the tally column.

Step 4: Complete the frequency column.

Add the tallies for each mark and complete the frequency column.

Step 5: Compare your frequency sum to the number of scores.

The total of the frequency column is __________
The total number of scores is __________

If these numbers are not the same, check your tally column then make sure the numbers in the frequency
column are correct. Add the frequency column again. The sum of the frequencies must equal the number
of scores.

© 2022 Cambridge University Press 1/2 Unit 6 Planning and collecting data
 6.3 Using frequency tables

TASK 2 Collect data about this aquarium

Create a frequency table according to the colours of the fish in this picture.

TASK 3 Collect data about your home

1 Take this page through the rooms in your house to tally the number of chairs, doors, tables and
windows you find.

Category Tally Frequency

Chairs
Doors
Tables
Windows

2 Complete the frequency column.

3 What was the most frequent item? ____________________

© 2022 Cambridge University Press 2/2 Unit 6 Planning and collecting data
 6.3 Using frequency tables

DISCOVERING FACTS FROM TABLES

TASK 1 How many pets were sold?

A pet shop owner kept a tally of pets sold over the weekend. The table shows the results.

Type of pet Frequency

1 How many cats were sold? __________
3

2 How many pets were sold altogether? __________

14

3
3 Can you tell how many people bought pets? Explain your
answer.

__________________________________________________
2
___________________________________________________

TASK 2 How much fruit was eaten?

A group of people was surveyed regarding how many pieces of fruit they had eaten over the last week.
The results are in the table below.

Pieces of fruit Frequency 1 How many people ate exactly 2 pieces of fruit? ________
0 12 2 How many people are represented in this survey? ________
1 8
3 What does the zero in the frequency column tell you?
2 14
3 28 ________________________________________________

4 0 ________________________________________________
5 17
4 How many people had fewer than 2 pieces of fruit? ________

5 How many people had at least 2 pieces of fruit? ________

6 How many pieces of fruit were eaten altogether? ________

© 2022 Cambridge University Press Unit 6 Planning and collecting data