Frequency Tables
Count how often each value occurs.
Key idea
Count how often each value occurs.
In depth
A frequency table counts how often each value or class occurs. Adding relative frequency (count ÷ total) lets you compare datasets of different sizes. It is the first step toward graphs and summary statistics.
Worked example
Scores 2, 3, 3, 4, 3, 2: value 2 → 2, value 3 → 3, value 4 → 1; relative frequency 1/3, 1/2, 1/6.
Real-world uses
- Summarising test scores or shoe sizes
- Recording how often a shop sells each product
Common mistake
Leaving out values with zero count and miscounting the total.
How to learn this
- Read the key idea and say it in your own words.
- Work through the worked example, then try a similar problem.
- Use the interactive lesson’s visual and mini-quiz to check the pattern.
Frequently asked questions
What is Frequency Tables?
Count how often each value occurs. It is a topic at the beginner level in Probability & Statistics.
Where is Frequency Tables used in real life?
Real-world examples: Summarising test scores or shoe sizes; Recording how often a shop sells each product.
What should I learn before Frequency Tables?
Make sure you are comfortable with Bias in Sampling, the previous topic in Probability & Statistics.
What is a common mistake with Frequency Tables?
Leaving out values with zero count and miscounting the total.
How can I practise Frequency Tables?
Open the interactive lesson, play with the visual, then answer the three-question mini-quiz. Getting two right marks the topic complete.
What comes after Frequency Tables?
Move on to Tally Charts and Pictographs next.
Related beginner topics in Probability & Statistics
- Types of Data – Categorical vs numerical, discrete vs continuous.
- Tally Charts and Pictographs – Simple visual summaries of counts.
- Bar Graphs – Compare categories using bars.
- Pie Charts – Show parts of a whole as sectors.
- Line Graphs – Show change over time.
- Mode – The most frequent value.