Why should the fifth tally stroke cross the previous four instead of standing alone?

Class 6Data HandlingData Handling

ATo make groups of five easy to count quickly
BTo save ink
CBecause four strokes are wrong
DTo make the number bigger

Step-by-Step Solution

Crossing the fifth stroke makes each group of five stand out, so a long tally can be counted in fives at a glance.

Answer: A) To make groups of five easy to count quickly

Key idea: Tally marks: counting without losing your place

When you are counting items as you go (e.g. asking 30 classmates their favourite colour), make a tally mark for each answer. To make groups easy to count, the **fifth** mark crosses the previous four: ||||̸. Every group of five jumps out at a glance, and the total is just (groups × 5) + leftovers.

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