lesson
Read what a total represents
1 · Learn
Data questions may ask for a sum, difference or comparison. Read the heading and units before calculating.
A table of library loans lists Monday 28, Tuesday 35 and Wednesday 19. The three-day total is 82 loans. This does not necessarily mean 82 different people, because one person can borrow more than one book.
2 · Worked example
Tuesday had 16 more loans than Wednesday: 35 − 19. Monday and Wednesday together had 47 loans.
3 · Your turn
How many more loans were recorded on Tuesday than Monday? How many were recorded on Monday and Tuesday together?
Check your answer
7 more; 63 loans together.
4 · Apply your learning
Write a comparison question and a two-step question about the table. Label each answer with what the table actually counts.
Adult guidance and safety
Use practical or drawn representations and explain the method. Check units and labels. A correct answer to one example is not evidence of secure fluency; revisit with varied numbers and feedback.
Open your writing and drawing pad
Write, draw or show your working. Use a mouse, pen or finger. This pad is not a submitted answer.
Not saved to your account. Download your drawing as PNG and your typed notes as TXT before leaving or refreshing. They are separate files. Do not enter private information.
Open a picture saved on this device to draw on it again. Opening replaces the drawing, but Undo can restore it. PNG only, up to 4 MB and 4096 × 4096 pixels. The picture stays in this browser; it is not uploaded. Paper lines in a saved picture become part of that picture.
Clear the drawing? Your typed notes will stay. You can undo this action.
Your pad is empty.
Open a UTF-8 TXT file from this device, up to 40 KB and 10,000 characters. It stays in this browser. Opening can be undone until you type again. Downloads keep a new copy; they do not change the file you opened.
Replace the notes on this page with the opened file? Download the current notes first if you want to keep them.
Typed notes are not submitted answers.
Practice this lesson
Lesson resources
Browse the available practice activities and worksheets for this lesson.
Your progress