Tables - Cycle 3

| Mathematics

What is a Table of Values?

Definition

A table of values is a tool used to organize and present the results of a survey.

A table of values can be presented in two different ways: horizontally or vertically.

Example

Horizontal table of values

Example of a horizontal table.

Vertical table of values

Example of a vertical table.

What Are the Parts of a Table of Values?

A table of values always has a title that introduces the survey’s topic.

Example

The title indicates that this table represents the number of candles that Jalil sold to fundraise for her soccer team.

Example of a table title.

The categories represent the type of information (data) collected.

Example

This table of values represents the number of vanilla, cinnamon, citrus and mint scented candles that Jalil has sold.

Example of categories in a table.

In a table, the data can be represented in different ways. Tally marks, X’s or checkmarks can be used.

Example

The data in this table are represented by tally marks.

I see that there are 8 tallies under the vanilla category. This means that Jalil sold 8 vanilla candles.

Example of data represented by tally marks.

Some tables indicate the total amount of data collected for each category.

Example

This table shows that Jalil sold 8 vanilla candles, 4 cinnamon candles, 11 citrus candles and 6 mint candles.

Example of a table where data totals are shown.

Be careful!

Some tables may have a legend. Look at the value associated with each symbol in the legend to know what they represent.

Example:

The legend shows that one dot represents 1 bracelet and that one X represents 5.

Example of a table with a legend.

How Do We Interpret a Table of Values?

To interpret the data in a table of values, analyze all parts of the table while keeping the survey question in mind.

Example

What is the most popular hobby among the students in Ms. Caroline's class?

Example of interpreting a table of values.

  1. I count the X’s collected, or I look at the total in each category to know which hobby is the most popular.

    In this table, I see that the category containing the most data is the one with 11 X’s.

Example of interpreting a table of values.
  1. I look at the category associated with this number.

    The category with 11 X’s is Reading.

Example of interpreting a table of values.

The most popular hobby in Ms. Caroline’s class is Reading.

Example

How many students are there in Ms. Caroline’s class?

Example of interpreting a table.

  1. I look at the totals in each category.

    The totals indicate that 7 students prefer video games, 11 students prefer reading, 4 students prefer drawing and 3 students prefer other hobbies.

Example of interpreting a table.
  1. Next, I add up the total number of students in each category.
7 + 11 + 4 + 3 = 25

There are a total of 25 students in Ms. Caroline’s class.

What Is a Double Entry Table?

Definition

A double entry table is a tool used to organize and present the results of a survey with 2 questions.

Example

Marie asks the students in her class to answer the 2 following questions: 

  1. What is your favourite animal between cats, dogs, fish or birds?
  2. What is your favourite colour between blue, red, green or orange?

All the possible choices are shown in the double entry table below.

A double entry table.

How do you read a double entry table?

To read a double entry table, you have to identify the box in the table where the row and the column meet.

Example

Julien's favourite animal is dogs and his favourite colour is green.

Identify the box that corresponds to Julien's choices in the double entry table below.

  1. I analyze Julien's answer to the 1st question.

    Julien answered that his favourite animal is dogs. So I turn my attention to the 2nd row of the table, since it represents dogs.

A double entry table.
  1. Now I analyze Julien's answer to the 2nd question.

    Julien answered that his preferred colour is green. I turn my attention to the 3rd column of the table, since it represents the colour green.

A double entry table.
  1. I find the box that is at the point where the row and column meet.
A double entry table.

The box in the double entry table that corresponds to Julien's 2 choices is therefore the one that contains a green dog.