Start with the recap, study the fully worked examples, then use the practice problems to
check your understanding of Tally Chart.
This page combines explanation, solved examples, and follow-up practice so you can move
from recognition to confident problem-solving in Statistics.
Concept Recap
A tally chart is a simple way to record and count data using vertical strokes called tally marks. Every fifth mark is drawn diagonally across the previous four, making groups of five that are easy to count. For example, |||| represents 4 and ⧸|||| represents 5.
Tally charts are like counting on your fingers, but on paper. Every time something happens, you draw a line. Cross every fifth line to make counting by 5s easy - like bundling sticks.
Read the first worked example with the solution open so the structure is clear.
Try the practice problems before revealing each solution.
Use the related concepts and background knowledge badges if you feel stuck.
What to Focus On
Core idea:Tally Chart organizes data so the right pattern is visible without distorting the counts or scale.
Common stuck point:Students often know a procedure related to tally chart but skip the recognition step: Am I choosing or interpreting a display that matches the type of data and the question being asked? That leads to a calculation or graph that looks reasonable but answers a different question.
Sense of Study hint:Ask: Am I choosing or interpreting a display that matches the type of data and the question being asked?
Worked Examples
Example 1
medium
A class survey tallies favorite pets. Cats: 3 crossed groups + 2. Dogs: 4 crossed groups + 1. How many more dogs than cats?
Answer
4
First step
1
Cats =3×5+2=17.
See the full worked solution + why-it-works coaching
Setup·Key insight·Why it works·Common pitfall·Connection
In a tally for daily steps: Mon 4 crossed + 3, Tue 5 crossed, Wed 6 crossed + 2 (each stroke = 100 steps). Find total steps.
Example 3
easy
A class voted for their favourite colour. The tally marks show: Red |||| ||, Blue |||| , Green |||, Yellow |||| |||. How many votes did each colour receive?
Example 4
medium
A survey asked 30 people their favourite season. The results are: Spring 8, Summer 11, Autumn 6, Winter 5. Represent this data using tally marks and verify the total.
Example 5
medium
Students were asked their favorite color: Red (7), Blue (12), Green (5), Yellow (3). Create the tally marks and find what fraction chose Blue.
Practice Problems
Try these problems on your own first, then open the solution to compare your method.
Example 1
easy
A tally chart shows |||| for one item. How many does |||| represent?
Example 2
easy
A crossed group of five plus 2 extra strokes is shown. How many is that?
Example 3
easy
How many tally strokes are in 3 complete crossed groups of five?
Example 4
easy
A tally chart records 2 crossed groups and 3 extra strokes. What is the count?
Example 5
easy
If each event adds one tally mark, after 6 events how many marks (including the cross at five) total mark-strokes count as items?
Example 6
easy
A tally for 'apple' is one crossed group of five. How many apples?
Example 7
easy
Two categories have tallies of 8 and 5. How many items in total?What is the total number of items across both categories?
Example 8
easy
A tally chart shows 4 crossed groups. How many items is that?
Example 9
medium
A tally chart has 5 crossed groups and 4 extra strokes for 'red'. How many red items?
Example 10
medium
Three categories have tallies of 12, 7, and 6. What is the difference between the largest and smallest?What is the difference between the largest and smallest tally counts?
Example 11
medium
If 23 items are recorded with crossed groups of five, how many complete crossed groups are drawn?
Example 12
medium
A tally of 31 is drawn with crossed groups of five. How many leftover single strokes are there?
Example 13
medium
Two students tally the same event; one records 3 crossed groups, the other 2 groups and 6 extra strokes. Do their counts match? Give the matching count or 0 if not.
Example 14
medium
A tally chart's four categories show 5, 10, 15, and 4 strokes. What is the grand total of items?What is the grand total of all items recorded?
Example 15
challenge
A tally chart has groups of five. If exactly 7 complete crossed groups and some extra strokes total 39 items, how many extra strokes are there?
Example 16
challenge
A tally records votes where category A has twice as many crossed groups as category B, and B has 3 groups. How many votes total across A and B (groups only)?Category A has twice as many groups as B (B = 3 groups). What is the total votes?
Example 17
challenge
Items arrive over 5 minutes, with counts forming crossed groups: minute counts are 5, 5, 5, 5, and 2. How many complete crossed groups appear in the combined tally?
Example 18
medium
A tally has 6 crossed groups and 2 extra strokes. How many items?
Example 19
medium
If 27 items are tallied in crossed groups of five, how many complete groups appear?
Example 20
medium
Three categories tally 15, 20, and 10. What is the grand total?
Example 21
easy
A tally chart shows one crossed group of five and 1 extra stroke. How many items?
Example 22
easy
Maria counts birds with tally marks. She has 3 crossed groups of five. How many birds did she count?
Example 23
easy
Tom's tally chart for 'cats' is: 2 crossed groups. How many cats?
Example 24
easy
A class voted: 'pizza' got 4 crossed groups and 2 extra strokes. How many votes for pizza?
Example 25
easy
A tally chart for favorite snacks shows: chips 8, cookies 5, fruit 6. How many votes total?Tally chart of favorite snack votes. What is the total?
Example 26
easy
Ana saw 5 dogs and made a tally. How many strokes does she draw?
Example 27
medium
Sam tallied 6 crossed groups and 3 extras for 'butterflies'. How many butterflies?
Example 28
medium
A tally chart shows colors: red 17, blue 9, green 14. Which color has the most?Which color has the most tally marks?
Example 29
medium
To record the number 19, how many crossed groups and extras?
Example 30
medium
A bird survey shows robin 24, sparrow 18, finch 11. How many more robins than finches?
Example 31
medium
A tally chart for 'eye color' shows: brown 23, blue 14, green 8, hazel 5. How many students were surveyed?How many students were surveyed in total?
Example 32
medium
After 17 cars passed, the tally has how many extra single strokes after the crossed groups?
Example 33
hard
A tally chart shows 2 crossed groups for category A and 5 crossed groups + 1 for category B. What is the ratio A:B in lowest terms?
Example 34
hard
A class of 30 students voted for sports. Soccer got 52 of the votes. How many crossed groups and extras for soccer?
Example 35
hard
A car traffic tally for 4 hours totals 12 crossed groups + 3. What is the average cars per hour?
Example 36
hard
In a survey, 'yes' is 4 crossed groups, 'no' is 2 crossed groups + 2. What fraction of responses are 'yes' (simplified)?What fraction of all responses were 'yes'?
Example 37
hard
A tally chart for 4 weeks shows: 22, 19, 26, 25 items per week. What is the weekly average?
Example 38
hard
A weather tally for 30 days shows: sunny 18, cloudy 9, rainy 3. What percent of days were sunny?What percent of the 30 days were sunny?
Example 39
challenge
A tally chart for snack votes: chips 13, cookies c, fruit 7. Total votes are 35. Find c and express as crossed groups + extras.Total votes = 35. Find the missing cookie count.
Example 40
medium
A student's tally chart for types of vehicles passing the school shows: Cars |||| |||| |||| ||, Buses |||| |, Bicycles ||||, Trucks |||| |||. Convert this to a frequency table and find what fraction of the total vehicles were cars.
Example 41
hard
A tally chart records dice rolls. The tallies show: 1 (7 times), 2 (5 times), 3 (9 times), 4 (6 times), 5 (4 times), 6 (9 times). There were supposed to be 42 rolls total. Is the tally chart consistent? If a fair die were rolled 42 times, what would you expect each frequency to be?