1. **State the problem:** We are given a table showing the number of children absent each day and the number of days for each absence count. We need to fill in the missing values in the $fx$ column and find the mean number of children absent per day, rounded to 1 decimal place. 2. **Recall the formula for mean:** $$\text{Mean} = \frac{\sum (x \times f)}{\sum f}$$ where $x$ is the number of children absent, and $f$ is the frequency (number of days). 3. **Fill in the missing $fx$ values:** - For $x=1, f=2$, $fx = 1 \times 2 = 2$ - For $x=2, f=4$, $fx = 2 \times 4 = 8$ - For $x=3, f=7$, $fx = 3 \times 7 = 21$ - For $x=4, f=4$, $fx = 4 \times 4 = 16$ - For $x=5, f=2$, $fx = 5 \times 2 = 10$ 4. **Calculate the total of $fx$:** $$\sum (fx) = 2 + 8 + 21 + 16 + 10 = 57$$ 5. **Calculate the total number of days $\sum f$:** $$\sum f = 2 + 4 + 7 + 4 + 2 = 19$$ 6. **Calculate the mean:** $$\text{Mean} = \frac{57}{19}$$ Show cancellation step: $$\text{Mean} = \frac{\cancel{57}}{\cancel{19}} = 3.0$$ 7. **Final answer:** The mean number of children absent per day is $3.0$ (to 1 decimal place).