Step-by-step walkthrough

Chi-Square Calculator Guide

Use this companion guide beside the interactive calculator to make sure you understand the “why” behind every click. Each section includes the classroom explanation, student-friendly language, and quick practice prompts.

Before you start

Collect the data points listed below and double-check their units. Keeping an organized “givens” list is one of the fastest ways to reduce math errors and impress exam graders.

  • chi-square
  • goodness of fit
  • categorical

Detailed procedure

  1. Step 1

    Enter observed counts and matching expected counts.

  2. Step 2

    Ensure expected counts are positive and align with observed categories.

  3. Step 3

    Review χ², degrees of freedom, and the p-value.

Teaching & troubleshooting tips

Can I test contingency tables?

This calculator handles goodness-of-fit tests. For contingency tables, flatten the observed counts and compute expected frequencies first.

What if expected counts are zero?

Chi-square requires all expected counts to be positive. Combine categories or use Fisher’s exact test if counts are too small.

Next steps