---
title: "Sorting and Filtering a Table to Answer a Question"
description: "A table of a few hundred rows will not answer a question by being read. Sorting brings the extremes to the top and filtering drops the rows that do not bear on the question, and what is left is the an"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/sorting-and-filtering-a-table-to-answer-a-question-mt_6-UzZXVWwV
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/sorting-and-filtering-a-table-to-answer-a-question-mt_6-UzZXVWwV.md
retrieved: 2026-09-12
---

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# Sorting and Filtering a Table to Answer a Question

A table of a few hundred rows will not answer a question by being read. Sorting brings the extremes to the top and filtering drops the rows that do not bear on the question, and what is left is the answer.

Subject: Computing · Area: Digital Literacy · Ages 12 to 13
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/sorting-and-filtering-a-table-to-answer-a-question-mt_6-UzZXVWwV

## Ready when they can

- Turn a question into the sort or the filter that would answer it, before touching the data
- Sort by one column and say why the other columns had to move with it
- Filter on two conditions and say how many rows survived and why

## Lesson: Let the table answer the question

In a sheet you can already build, a table with hundreds of rows will not answer you by being read. Turn your question into a sort or a filter before you touch the data. Sorting lines rows up by size, and filtering drops the rows that do not matter.

**Example.** You need the five best scores from one class. First filter the class column to that class, so other classes vanish. Then sort scores from largest to smallest, and read the top five rows.

When you sort by one column, the other columns must move with it. Each row is one record, like one pupil with her class and score. If scores moved alone, they would land beside the wrong names.

Stack two filters to narrow further, then count the rows that survive. Say the count and why each filter removed its share. The top row after a good sort and filter is your answer, not a guess. If no rows survive, loosen a filter and check why.

**Recap.** Translate the question into a sort or filter, keep rows together, and read the answer off the survivors.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Reading tables](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/reading-tables-mt_Cqm8iy48UI)
- [Spreadsheets: Rows, Columns and a Formula That Updates Itself](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/spreadsheets-rows-columns-and-a-formula-that-updates-itself-mt_iWyPF0-Abz)
- [Framing Research Questions](https://lightmysky.com/learn/learning-to-learn/framing-research-questions-mt_ngkBCLLMYu)

## Opens up

- [SQL: Selecting, Filtering and Ordering Rows](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/sql-selecting-filtering-and-ordering-rows-mt_lDVVG2AKzs)