Tables - Organising Data in Rows and Columns
A table arranges data into rows and columns, making it easy to read, compare, and interpret. Tables are one of the most powerful and flexible tools in data handling because they can display almost any type of information clearly.
Parts of a Table
| Part | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | States what the table is about |
| Column header | Labels the data in each column |
| Row header | Labels the data in each row |
| Cell | A single data entry at the intersection of a row and column |
| Total row / column | Sums up the data in each column or row |
Two-Way Tables
A two-way table shows how data is split across two categories at the same time. For example, favourite sport vs. gender. Reading the correct cell gives the count for both categories combined.
Worked Examples
The table below shows the number of books read by students in one term.
| Books read | Number of students |
|---|---|
| 0 | 3 |
| 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 7 |
| 4 or more | 5 |
| Total | 35 |
How many students read at least 2 books? 12 + 7 + 5 = 24 students.
Two-way table: Favourite sport by gender (40 students total).
| Football | Tennis | Swimming | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | 9 | 4 | 5 | 18 |
| Girls | 5 | 8 | 9 | 22 |
| Total | 14 | 12 | 14 | 40 |
How many girls prefer swimming? Read row Girls, column Swimming: 9.
Key Takeaways
- Tables organise data into rows and columns for easy reading.
- Always check that row and column totals agree (they should both sum to the grand total).
- A two-way table shows data split across two categories simultaneously.
- Read the correct row and column carefully – it is easy to misread a table.
Practice Questions
- Using the books table above, how many students read fewer than 2 books?
- Using the sport table above, what fraction of boys prefer tennis?
- A class records test scores: 40-49 (5 students), 50-59 (9), 60-69 (14), 70-79 (8), 80-89 (4). Draw a frequency table and find the total.
- In a two-way table of 50 people, 30 are adults. 18 adults and 12 children prefer tea; the rest prefer coffee. Complete the table.
- Why is a two-way table more useful than two separate frequency tables for comparing two categories?