Read tables

Reading tables involves interpreting titles, row and column headings, labels, units, and numerical entries to determine what each value represents. The learner can retrieve values, compare categories, identify greatest or least amounts, and answer one- or two-step questions involving totals, differences, multiplication, or division, while distinguishing individual entries from totals. This understanding supports representing and analyzing data in graphs; formal statistical inference and complex multi-variable tables are not included.

Detailed Explanation: Read tables

To read a table carefully:

Read the title to learn what the table is about.
Check the row headings and column headings.
Notice the units, such as kilograms, dollars, or people.
Find the value where the correct row and column meet.
Use the values to add, subtract, multiply, or divide if the question asks you to.

Example

Vegetables Harvested from the School Garden

Vegetable	June (kg)	July (kg)	Total (kg)
Tomatoes	14	20	34
Carrots	10	18	28
Peppers	8	12	20

Question: How many kilograms of carrots and peppers were harvested in July altogether, and how many more kilograms is that than the tomatoes harvested in July?

Step 1: Find the correct column.
The question asks about July, so use the July (kg) column. The unit is kilograms.

Step 2: Find the two values.

Carrots in July: $18$ kg
Peppers in July: $12$ kg

Step 3: Find the combined amount.

18+12=30\text{ kg}

Carrots and peppers totaled $30$ kg in July.

Step 4: Compare this amount with July tomatoes.
July tomatoes were $20$ kg, so subtract:

30-20=10\text{ kg}

Answer: Carrots and peppers totaled $30$ kg, which was $10$ kg more than the tomatoes harvested in July. Notice that the Total (kg) column was not used because the question asked only about July.

Learn by doing: Read tables

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Graphing - Tally Chart - Read Value

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