Reading and comparing bar and line graphs
Solve comparison, sum, and difference problems using information presented in a bar graph
What a learner can do afterwards
- Read a line graph of temperature over a week and identify the warmest day
- Find the difference in rainfall between two months from a line graph
- Explain what a rising/falling line means on a time-series graph
1 · Read
A bar graph uses bars to compare groups. The taller the bar, the bigger the number. Now you will use bar graphs to solve problems: finding the biggest or smallest group, adding two bars together, and working out how many more one bar shows than another.
To find how many more one bar shows than another, read both numbers and subtract the smaller one from the bigger one. A graph shows 11 children walked to school and 6 came by car. 11 minus 6 is 5, so 5 more children walked than came by car.
To find a total, add the bars. A graph shows 4 children chose mystery books and 9 chose adventure books. 4 plus 9 is 13, so 13 children chose those two kinds of book altogether.
Read the question carefully. Altogether or total means add the bars. How many more or how many fewer means subtract the smaller number from the bigger one.
Read each bar's number first. Then add the bars for a total, or subtract the smaller number from the bigger one to compare them.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.