Interpret data in tables: example question
31 October 2026
Tables are a common way for children to see information clearly in maths. When your child learns to interpret data in tables, they practise picking out facts and adding them together.
Worked example
Here is a table showing the number of books read by four children in one week:
| Name | Books Read |
|--------|------------|
| Sam | 3 |
| Aisha | 5 |
| Ben | 2 |
| Lily | 4 |
Question: How many books did Aisha and Lily read altogether?
Step 1: Find how many books Aisha read. Aisha read 5 books.
Step 2: Find how many books Lily read. Lily read 4 books.
Step 3: Add the two numbers together. 5 + 4 = 9
The correct answer is 9.
| Name | Books Read |
|---|---|
| Sam | 3 |
| Aisha | 5 |
| Ben | 2 |
| Lily | 4 |
After this example, your child will recognise how to spot the right numbers in a table and combine them to answer a question. The next step is to try similar questions on their own, building confidence with each new table they see.
