Sorting data into a table

Sort information into a table, with Samaira and Kabir.

In your book, Maths Mela (Chapter 15, Data Through Pictures), Samaira and Kabir act as TV reporters. They ask 35 friends: 'How many hours a day do you spend watching TV?' They write down every answer in a notebook: ½ hour, 1 hour, 1½ hours, 2 hours and 2½ hours.

A long list of answers is hard to read. So we sort it into a table: we count how many answers fall in each group. Sorted, the 35 answers give this table: ½ hour: 9 children. 1 hour: 13 children. 1½ hours: 7 children. 2 hours: 3 children. More than 2 hours: 3 children. Check the total: 9 + 13 + 7 + 3 + 3 = 35, one for each friend.

Now questions are easy. How many watch TV for more than half an hour? Everyone except the 9 who watch only ½ hour: 13 + 7 + 3 + 3 = 26, or 35 − 9 = 26. How many watch for less than two hours? The ½ hour, 1 hour and 1½ hours groups: 9 + 13 + 7 = 29. The 2-hour group is not included, because 2 hours is not less than 2 hours.

Is it true that more children watch TV for 2 hours than for half an hour? 3 children watch for 2 hours and 9 for half an hour. 3 is less than 9, so it is false.

Sort answers into a table by counting how many fall in each group, then add the right groups to answer 'more than' and 'less than' questions.

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