--- title: "Scaled picture graphs and bar graphs" description: "Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set; solve one- and two-step comparison, sum, and difference problems using bar charts, pictograms, and tables" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/scaled-picture-graphs-and-bar-graphs-mt_r8XnXwRA6g source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/scaled-picture-graphs-and-bar-graphs-mt_r8XnXwRA6g.md retrieved: 2026-09-02 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Scaled picture graphs and bar graphs Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set; solve one- and two-step comparison, sum, and difference problems using bar charts, pictograms, and tables Subject: Mathematics · Area: Data & Statistics · Ages 8 to 9 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/scaled-picture-graphs-and-bar-graphs-mt_r8XnXwRA6g ## Ready when they can - Draw a bar graph where each square represents 5 pets - From a scaled pictogram, answer: how many more children chose football than tennis? - Solve a two-step problem: how many votes in total for the top two choices? ## Lesson: Graphs with a key: when one square means more Sometimes there are too many things to draw one by one on a graph. So the graph uses a key, like 'each square = 5 pets'. The key tells you what one square, block, or picture is really worth. To find the real number, multiply the squares by the key number. *(drawing: Each square on this graph stands for 5 pets. Fish's bar reaches 25, because 5 squares times 5 pets equals 25.)* **Example.** A pictogram shows favourite sports. The key says each ball picture = 2 votes. Football has 4 balls: 4 x 2 = 8 votes. Tennis has 2 balls: 2 x 2 = 4 votes. To find how many more chose football, subtract: 8 - 4 = 4. Four more children chose football than tennis. Some questions take two steps. First work out each amount from the graph, then do something with those amounts. To find the total for the top two choices, read every bar, pick the two biggest numbers, and add them. A pictogram works the same way once you have multiplied each row by the key. **Recap.** Find the key, multiply squares or pictures by it, then add or subtract to compare, total, or find the difference. ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Pictograms and tally charts](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/pictograms-and-tally-charts-mt_c29FaCTNsx) - [Picture & Bar Graphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/picture-and-bar-graphs-mt_VhBH8wrFC6) ## Opens up - [Fossils as Evidence](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/fossils-as-evidence-mt_6Z42wJaKYG) - [Bar graphs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/bar-graphs-mt_ChjMU2GDJa) - [Reading tables](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/reading-tables-mt_Cqm8iy48UI) - [Short Research Projects](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/short-research-projects-mt_FW9_8F52bw) - [Salt Water vs Fresh Water](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/salt-water-vs-fresh-water-mt_LsY4-T2fU7) - [Graphing seasonal weather data](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/graphing-seasonal-weather-data-mt_NYsz6QgaaE) - [Connecting Ideas in Texts](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/connecting-ideas-in-texts-mt_w4wKFP3jud)