3
Reading a picture graph
Discover Mathematics: Chapter 2
GoalRead a picture graph: count each row, find the row with the most, and find the row with the fewest.
New words
graph · a picture that shows how manyrow · things side by side in a linemost · the biggest numberfewest · the smallest number
Explanation
A picture graph uses pictures to show how many. Each picture stands for one child or one thing. First read the name at the start of each row. Then count the pictures in each row and say the number. The row with the most pictures is the longest. The row with the fewest pictures is the shortest.
Worked examples
Each ball is one child. 7 children chose football, 4 chose basketball and 3 chose tennis. Football has the most.
On a trip the children saw 3 camels, 5 donkeys and 2 horses. Horses are the fewest.
To read any picture graph, look at the names first, then count each row, then compare the numbers.
Class activity
Family vote. Ask everyone at home: tea, juice or milk? Draw a small circle in a row for each answer, one row for each drink. Count each row. Which drink got the most? Which got the fewest?
Practice
1
How many children chose juice?
5
2
Which drink did the fewest children choose?
Milk. Only 2 children chose milk.
3
How many children voted in all? Count both rows.
8
4
In a picture graph, a row has 6 pictures and another row has 9. Which row is longer?
The row with 9 pictures.