Data tables

Part of Maths and numeracyMeasurementsYear 2Year 2

What is a data table?

A data table is a table that is used to display information about different things.

It can show pictures (in a pictogram), a tally or numbers.

Data table titled 'Favourite pizza toppings'. There are two columns 'pizza toppings' and 'number of people'. The data is as follows, mushrooms 1, spicy sausage 3, ham 2, peppers 3, chicken 2, cheese 7 and sweetcorn 2.

The title of the table tells you what the table is about.

The headings tell you what data is in each column or row.

Rows go across and columns go up and down.

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Activity: How to read a data table

Complete this interactive activity to understand how to read a data table. Then put your knowledge to the test.

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Reading information on a data table

A data table helps you see information clearly. It shows you how many things have been counted in different categories.

You can use them to compare data and numbers.

The information is organised in rows and columns. Rows go across, and columns go up and down.

In a data table, the first column shows the categories, or options, to choose from.

The second column shows how many of that option were counted.

This data table shows children's favourite colours.

A data table about students favourite colours. The two columns in the table are 'colours' and 'number of students'. The data in the table are as follows, red 7, pink 5, orange 3, blue 12, green 8.

The most popular colour is blue, as 12 children picked this.

The least popular colour is orange, as only 3 children picked this.

To work out how many children are represented in this table, you can add up all of the numbers in the second column.

7 + 5 + 3 + 12 + 8 = 35

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How to calculate tallies

Tally marks are used to count things. You can add them up to find totals.

Each group of 5 tallies represents 5 items.

Any tally marks not in a group of 5 represent 1 item each.

To find the total number, you add up all the tally marks.

For example, if there are two groups of 5 tallies and 2 extra tally marks, the total is 10 + 2 = 12.

two groups of five tally marks and another two individual tally marks equals 12.
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Example 1

Look at this data table. Its title is 'Favourite pets in Year 2'.

A data table with the topic 'favourite pets in class 2'. There are two columns 'pet' and 'number of children'. The data is as follows, cat 8, dog 10, lizard 2, rabbit 5, bird 4.

  • What is the most popular pet in Class 2?

  • What is the least popular pet in Class 2?

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Example 2

Look at this data table. Its title is 'Favourite sports in Class 2'.

A data table with the topic 'favourite sport in class 2'. There are two columns 'sport' and 'number of children'. The data is as follows, netball 7, football 8, tennis 4, cricket 3, rugby 5.

How many children in total are shown in this data table?

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Example 3

Lily asked all the people on her street what their eye colour was. She recorded the information in a data table.

A data table on the topic of 'eye colour on Lily's street'. There are three columns, 'eye colour', 'number of people' and 'tally'. The data is as follows, green is blank with 14 vertical lines with 3 diagonal lines in the tally column. brown 20, grey 12, blue 24.

Can you count the tallies to work out the missing number?

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