1
Fruit graph with a bigger step
Discover Mathematics P2: Term 1, Lessons 2–10
GoalRead a bar graph whose numbers go up by 2, including bars that stop halfway.
New words
scale · the numbers along the side of a graphstep · how much the scale goes up each timehalfway · in the middle between two numbers
Explanation
Some graphs count by 1 and some count by 2. Always look at the scale first. On this graph the lines are marked 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, so each step is 2. If a bar stops on a line, read that number. If a bar stops halfway between two lines, it is the number in the middle: halfway between 6 and 8 is 7.
Worked examples
The orange bar touches the line marked 8. So 8 children like oranges best.
The banana bar stops halfway between 6 and 8. The number in the middle is 7, so 7 children like bananas best.
The pear bar stops halfway between 2 and 4, so pears have 3 votes. Grapes have 10. Grapes have 10 − 3 = 7 more votes than pears.
Class activity
Counting by 2 helps with reading this graph. Walk across the room and count steps by 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Then count the steps up to 7 and say when you land halfway between two numbers.
Practice
1
Mina’s class voted for a snack. How many children chose dates?
6
2
How many children chose peanuts?
9 (the bar stops halfway between 8 and 10)
3
How many more children chose biscuits than cheese?
2 (4 − 2 = 2)
4
How many children voted in all?
21 (6 + 9 + 4 + 2 = 21)
5
Count by 2 up to 12.
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12