Reading Graphs & Tables

Tally marks are counted in bundles of five: four upright marks with one drawn across them makes five. To read a tally, count the bundles in fives first and then add the loose marks on the end. Blue here has two bundles and two loose marks, so that is five and five and two, which is twelve. Counting every single line one at a time is slow and it goes wrong, so always count the bundles first.

A column graph is read the same way as a number line, so find what one step up the side is worth before you read anything. Here the numbers go nought, two, four, six — so each step is two, not one. Then read across from the top of a column to the side. Thursday's column reaches eight. Do not count the columns and do not guess from how tall they look; read across to the numbers.

A picture graph uses a symbol instead of a bar, and the key at the bottom tells you what one symbol is worth. Here the key says each circle stands for one, so you just count the circles: Year Two has six circles, so Year Two is six. The important habit is never to start counting until you have read the key, because it sits in small print at the bottom and it is very easy to miss.

Here is the same picture graph with a different key: each circle is now worth five. So you count the circles and multiply by five. Year Two has six circles, and six times five is thirty. If a row ends in a half circle, that half is worth half of five. The picture is identical to the last one but every answer has changed, which is exactly why the key has to be read every single time.

The hardest graph questions are two steps. This graph shows the hours someone worked each day, and they are paid four dollars an hour. Step one: add the hours from the graph — two, three, one and four make ten. Step two: ten hours at four dollars an hour is ten times four, which is forty dollars. Reading the graph is only half the work, so once you have the number, check what the question actually asks you to do with it. Quiz and exercises now.