Filtering rows in R Programming

Introduction

Filtering rows helps you pick only the data you want from a table. It makes your data easier to understand and work with.

You want to see only sales from a specific city.

You need to find students who scored above 80 in a test.

You want to analyze data from a certain year.

You want to remove rows with missing or unwanted values.

Syntax

R Programming

filtered_data <- subset(data, condition)

data is your original table or data frame.

condition is a rule that rows must follow to be kept.

Examples

This keeps rows where the Age column is greater than 30.

R Programming

filtered_data <- subset(df, Age > 30)

This keeps rows where the City column is exactly "New York".

R Programming

filtered_data <- subset(df, City == "New York")

This keeps rows where Score is at least 50 and Passed is TRUE.

R Programming

filtered_data <- subset(df, Score >= 50 & Passed == TRUE)

Sample Program

This program creates a small table with names, ages, and cities. Then it keeps only the rows where Age is more than 30 and City is "New York". Finally, it prints the filtered table.

R Programming

df <- data.frame(Name = c("Anna", "Ben", "Cara", "Dan"), Age = c(25, 35, 30, 40), City = c("New York", "New York", "New York", "Boston"))
filtered_df <- subset(df, Age > 30 & City == "New York")
print(filtered_df)

Important Notes

You can use logical operators like & (and), | (or), and ! (not) in conditions.

Make sure your condition matches the column names exactly, including case.

Filtering does not change the original data unless you save the result back.

Summary

Filtering rows helps you focus on the data you need.

Use subset() with a condition to pick rows.

Combine conditions with & and | for more control.

Practice

1. What does the subset() function do in R when working with data frames?

easy

A. It sorts the data frame by a column.

B. It changes the column names.

C. It adds new columns to the data frame.

D. It selects rows based on a condition.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of subset() and compare with other options

   The subset() function is used to pick rows from a data frame that meet a specific condition. Changing column names, adding columns, or sorting are done by other functions, not subset().

2. Final Answer:

   It selects rows based on a condition. -> Option D

3. Quick Check:

   subset() filters rows [OK]

Hint: Remember: subset() picks rows that match conditions [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking subset() changes columns
• Confusing subset() with sorting functions
• Using subset() to add data

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to filter rows where column age is greater than 30 in a data frame df?

easy

A. subset(df, age > 30)

B. subset(df, age => 30)

C. subset(df, age = 30)

D. subset(df, age < 30)

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the condition syntax and validate the subset syntax

   The correct comparison operator for 'greater than' is >, so age > 30 is correct. subset(df, age > 30) correctly filters rows where age is greater than 30.

2. Final Answer:

   subset(df, age > 30) -> Option A

3. Quick Check:

   Use > for greater than in subset() [OK]

Hint: Use >, <, == for conditions inside subset() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using => instead of >
• Using = instead of == or >
• Filtering with wrong comparison signs

3. Given the data frame df <- data.frame(name=c('Anna','Bob','Cara'), age=c(25, 35, 30)), what is the output of subset(df, age >= 30)?

medium

A. Rows with Bob and Cara

B. All rows

C. Rows with Anna and Bob

D. Rows with Anna and Cara

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify rows where age >= 30 and check which are selected

   Bob has age 35 and Cara has age 30, both satisfy age >= 30. Anna has age 25, which does not meet the condition, so only Bob and Cara rows remain.

2. Final Answer:

   Rows with Bob and Cara -> Option A

3. Quick Check:

   Filter keeps rows with age 30 or more [OK]

Hint: Check each row's value against condition carefully [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Including rows with age less than 30
• Confusing >= with >
• Assuming all rows are returned

4. What is wrong with this code to filter rows where score is less than 50 in data frame df?

subset(df, score < 50 &)

medium

A. The subset function cannot filter numeric columns.

B. The condition ends with an incomplete operator '&'.

C. The comparison operator '<' is invalid in subset.

D. The data frame name is missing.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the condition syntax and check other options

   The condition ends with '&' which expects another condition after it, but none is provided. Subset can filter numeric columns, '<' is valid, and data frame name is present as 'df'.

2. Final Answer:

   The condition ends with an incomplete operator '&'. -> Option B

3. Quick Check:

   Conditions must be complete without dangling operators [OK]

Hint: Avoid ending conditions with & or | without second part [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Leaving dangling & or | operators
• Thinking subset can't filter numbers
• Misusing comparison operators

5. You have a data frame df with columns age and status. How do you filter rows where age is over 25 and status is 'active'?

hard

A. subset(df, age > 25, status == 'active')

B. subset(df, age > 25 | status == 'active')

C. subset(df, age > 25 & status == 'active')

D. subset(df, age > 25 && status = 'active')

Solution

1. Step 1: Use correct logical operator for AND and check comparison operators and syntax

   The operator for AND in R is a single ampersand '&', so use age > 25 & status == 'active'. Use '==' to compare values, not '=', and combine conditions inside one subset call.

2. Final Answer:

   subset(df, age > 25 & status == 'active') -> Option C

3. Quick Check:

   Use & and == for combined conditions [OK]

Hint: Use & for AND, | for OR, and == for equality in subset() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using | instead of & for AND
• Using = instead of == for comparison
• Separating conditions with commas