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Pearson Edexcel 4MA1 IGCSE  ·  Topic G3.20

G3.20 Two-Way Tables

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01 — Explanation

How is a two-way table structured?

Rows show the categories of one variable (e.g. Boy/Girl), columns show categories of a second variable (e.g. Walk/Bus). Each inside cell is a joint frequency (fits both categories); each row/column total is a marginal frequency; the bottom-right cell is the grand total.

WalkBusTotal
Boys7263135
Girls10263165
Total174126300

02 — Explanation

How do I fill in missing values?

If a row or column has only one unknown cell, subtract the known values from that row/column's total. Work outward until every cell is filled.

Example: If the Boys row totals 135135 and "Walk" is 7272, then Boys who take the Bus =135−72=63=135-72=63.

Exam Tip: Once finished, check that the row totals sum to the grand total, and the column totals sum to the grand total, independently. If both checks agree, your arithmetic is almost certainly correct.

03 — Explanation

How do I find a simple or joint probability from the table?

P(single category)=row or column totalgrand totalP(A and B)=joint frequency cellgrand totalP(\text{single category}) = \frac{\text{row or column total}}{\text{grand total}} \qquad P(A \text{ and } B) = \frac{\text{joint frequency cell}}{\text{grand total}}

Example: P(Walk)=174300P(\text{Walk}) = \dfrac{174}{300}. P(Boy and Bus)=63300P(\text{Boy and Bus}) = \dfrac{63}{300}.

04 — Explanation

How do I find a conditional probability ("given that...") from the table?

The condition restricts the sample space to just that row or column total — not the grand total.

Example: Find P(Walk∣Boy)P(\text{Walk} \mid \text{Boy}).

  1. Restrict to the "Boy" row: total =135=135.
  2. Favourable outcome within that row: Boys who walk =72=72.
  3. P(Walk∣Boy)=72135P(\text{Walk}\mid\text{Boy}) = \frac{72}{135}

Common Misconception: Using the grand total (300300) as the denominator for a conditional probability instead of the row/column total named in the condition. "Given that" always shrinks the sample space to the stated subgroup first.

05 — Explanation

How should I write my final probability answer?

As a fraction, decimal, or percentage — simplified where possible. Writing "72 out of 135" or a ratio like "72:135" is not accepted as a probability.

06 — Explanation

How does a two-way table relate to a frequency tree?

They display the exact same information in different layouts — every terminal node of a frequency tree corresponds to one joint-frequency cell in a two-way table. If a question's wording is easier to follow sequentially (first split by one category, then by the second), build a frequency tree first and transfer the results into the table afterwards; if the categories are better understood as a grid from the outset, go straight to the table.

Exam Tip: Whichever representation the question provides, you can always redraw it as the other — if you're stuck interpreting a table, sketching the equivalent tree sometimes makes a conditional probability click into place.

07 — Worked example

Worked Example

250250 students were asked if they play an instrument. 140140 are girls; 9090 students in total play an instrument; 5555 boys do not play an instrument. Find P(plays an instrument∣boy)P(\text{plays an instrument} \mid \text{boy}).

  1. Boys total: 250−140=110250-140=110.
  2. Boys who play: 110−55=55110-55=55.
  3. P(plays∣boy)=55110=12P(\text{plays}\mid\text{boy}) = \frac{55}{110} = \frac12