After you read the question and know what is being asked, you will be able to
get the information from the chart or graph.
To understand
statistics
and
data
(facts and figures) you have to understand how to read a
chart, table, bar graph, line graph
or
pie graph.
With this information you can make informed choices.
First check the
title
so you know what the whole chart or graph is about. Then see what is being
compared. The
labels
on the rows or columns of a table and the labels of the up and down (vertical)
or flat (horizontal) axis of a graph show the
variables.
CHARTS OR TABLES
One way to organize a collection of facts is to make a table. Then this
data
can be used to make a decision or answer a question.
Each block on this table is called a
cell. The
horizontal rows
of cells represent departure times. The
vertical columns
represent the various stations the bus stops at. These are the
variables.
You are at May-Green. If you wish to arrive at Center Square by noon, you must
take the bus which arrives at 11:58. The time at which the bus leaves
May-Green is 11:17. The
variables, in this instance,
intersect
(meet) at the
cell
which says 11:17.
CIRCLE GRAPH OR PIE GRAPH
Circle or Pie Graphs are circle charts used to show
percentage
or
fractions
of the whole.
This doesn't tell you how much money was spent on food but you do know that 33%
or about 1/3 of the Milton's family income was spent on food.
BAR GRAPHS
Bar Graphs
are used to compare the
value
of
related things.
The percentage of attendance at school is related to the grade the six students
got in science. Chuck had the best attendance and the best grades.
LINE GRAPHS
Line graphs
present information visually with
data
connected by a
rising or falling line.
The line shows changes or trends usually over time.
The boys and girls each played a 20 game season.
You can see that the girls basketball team won more games than the boys team in
1989.