Worked examples
The question
Question: draw a bar chart of red 5, blue 8, green 3 and yellow 6.
Which is the most?
red 5, blue 8, green 3, yellow 6
1 Draw the axes
The names go along the bottom.
The numbers go up the side.
The side counts in 1s, starting at 0.
Careful!
The side always starts at 0.
Then the bars compare fairly.
Careful: the side starts at 0
2 Draw the bars
Red: 5.
Its bar goes up to 5 on the side.
Blue: 8.
Green: 3.
All the bars have the same width, with gaps between them.
3 Read the chart
The tallest bar is blue.
Across to the side: it reaches 8.
So the most is blue, with 8.
= most: blue (8)
4 Check
Let's check with the numbers: 8 is bigger than all the others.
So it is right!
8 > 5, 3, 6
Let's look back.
First: draw the axes.
Then: draw the bars.
Then: read the chart.
Last: check.
▶ Watch it solved
The question
Question: draw a bar chart of cats 12, dogs 17 and fish 6.
How many more dogs than fish?
cats 12, dogs 17, fish 6
1 Draw the axes
The names go along the bottom.
The numbers go up the side.
The biggest number is 17.
So the side counts in 2s, starting at 0.
Each line on the side is 2 more.
1 line = 2
2 Draw the bars
Cats: 12.
Its bar goes up to 12 on the side.
Dogs: 17.
17 is between 16 and 18.
Fish: 6.
All the bars have the same width, with gaps between them.
3 Read the chart
Careful!
The side counts in 2s.
So read the number on the side, not how many squares.
Careful: read the side, not the squares
Dogs reaches 17.
Fish reaches 6.
How many more: we take away.
17 minus 6.
= dogs − fish = 17 − 6
17 minus 6 is 11.
So there are 11 more dogs than fish.
= dogs − fish = 11
4 Check
Let's check: 6 plus 11 is 17.
So it is right!
6 + 11 = 17
Let's look back.
First: draw the axes.
Then: draw the bars.
Then: read the chart.
Last: check.
Answer = dogs − fish = 11
▶ Watch it solved
The question
Question: draw a bar chart of June 45, July 60, Aug 35 and Sept 50.
How many more July than Aug?
June 45, July 60, Aug 35, Sept 50
1 Draw the axes
The names go along the bottom.
The numbers go up the side.
The biggest number is 60.
So the side counts in 10s, starting at 0.
Each line on the side is 10 more.
1 line = 10
2 Draw the bars
June: 45.
Its bar goes up to 45 on the side.
45 is between 40 and 50.
July: 60.
Aug: 35.
35 is between 30 and 40.
All the bars have the same width, with gaps between them.
3 Read the chart
Careful!
The side counts in 10s.
So read the number on the side, not how many squares.
Careful: read the side, not the squares
July reaches 60.
Aug reaches 35.
How many more: we take away.
60 minus 35.
= July − Aug = 60 − 35
60 minus 35 is 25.
So there are 25 more July than Aug.
= July − Aug = 25
4 Check
Let's check: 35 plus 25 is 60.
So it is right!
35 + 25 = 60
Let's look back.
First: draw the axes.
Then: draw the bars.
Then: read the chart.
Last: check.
▶ Watch it solved
