GoalChoose between a table, a bar graph and a chart to show information clearly.
New words
data · facts and numbers that we collecttable · information arranged in rows and columnsbar graph · a picture where bar height shows an amountpie chart · a circle cut into slices to show parts of a whole
Explanation
Facts and numbers are called data. We can show the same data in different ways. A table puts data in rows and columns, and it is good for exact numbers. A bar graph uses bars: the taller the bar, the bigger the amount, so you can compare at one look. A pie chart is a circle cut into slices, and it shows how a whole is shared, like a cake cut for friends. Before you choose, ask: do I need exact numbers, a comparison or parts of a whole? Give every graph a title and label what each bar means, so a reader does not have to guess.
Worked examples
Mariam asks her class to vote for a fruit: 9 watermelon, 6 orange, 5 banana. A table lists the exact votes. A bar graph shows at a glance that watermelon is the winner.
Omar has 20 sweets for his team. He gives half to the attackers and a quarter each to the other two groups. A pie chart shows these parts of the whole: a big half and two quarters.
A graph with no title or labels confuses Seif. He sees three bars but does not know if they show fruit, sports or marks. A title and labels fix it.
Class activity
Show it three ways. Ask five classmates to choose a favourite sport (football, swimming, running). Write the votes in a table, draw a bar graph with a title and labels, and draw a circle cut into slices. Which of the three is best for exact numbers? Which is best for comparing? Which is best for parts of a whole?
Practice
1
Which shows exact numbers best: a table or a pie chart?
A table.
2
In a bar graph, what does a taller bar mean?
A bigger amount.
3
Look at the picture. Which fruit won the vote? Say its name.
