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Overview

As part of your year 6 curriculum, in this article, we explore the different types of graphs and charts. These visual tools are essential for understanding and communicating information in a meaningful way.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid foundation in interpreting and creating

  • Line graphs
  • Bar graphs
  • Picture graphs
  • Pie charts
  • Double line graphs

Line Graphs

A line graph is a visual representation that shows how data changes over time. It uses a line to connect points on a graph, where the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the data values. By looking at the line, you can see patterns, trends, and relationships between the variables being studied. Line graphs are useful for understanding how things change over time and making predictions based on the data.

Example:
A weather observer records the temperatures at different times of the day. His findings are shown in the table below:

Time of the day 8 AM 10 AM 12 PM 2 PM 4 PM 6 PM 8 PM 10 PM
Recorded temperature (⁰C) 12 15 18 21 17 15 9 8


A line graph for the data above is shown below.


Now, by looking at the line graph above, try answering the following questions:

At what time did the temperature first reach \(18^{\circ}\)C?

What is the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures of the day?

Bar Graph

A bar graph is a way to display data using rectangular bars. Each bar represents a category or group, and its height represents the value or frequency of that category. The longer the bar, the greater the value. It’s like a visual summary that helps us compare different groups and see which one has the highest or lowest value. Bar graphs are useful for presenting data in a clear and organized manner, making it easy to understand and draw conclusions from the information presented.

Example:
The residents of a certain neighbourhood were surveyed to find out the pets they have. The table below shows the result of the survey.

Pet Dog Cat Fish Rabbit Bird
Number of owners 21 16 14 10 18


The data is represented on a bar graph as follows:


By looking at the graph above, can you tell how many families own a dog or a bird?

Picture Graph

A picture graph is a fun and engaging way to display data using pictures or symbols instead of bars or lines. Each picture or symbol represents a certain quantity or value. It’s like using a visual code to show information. Picture graphs help us understand data easily and quickly, especially when the quantities are more concrete or can be represented by recognizable images. They are great for telling stories with data and making it more visually appealing and accessible for interpretation.

A picture graph always has a key associated with it. The key tells us how many actual numbers are represented by each picture or symbol.

Example:
Look at the picture graph below. It represents the sale of different flavours of ice cream on a certain day at a certain ice cream parlour. Notice the ‘key’ in this case is: a picture of one ice cream represents 6 sales.


Can you tell how many vanilla ice creams were sold? (hint: the last icon in vanilla represents half of 6)

Need a more in-depth review of year 6 maths syllabus? We can help.

Pie Chart

A pie chart is a circular graph that looks like a pizza sliced into different pieces. Each slice, or sector, represents a category or group, and the size of the slice shows the proportion or percentage of that category. It’s like dividing up the pizza according to how much each category contributes. Pie charts help us compare the parts to the whole and understand the distribution or composition of data. They are useful for showing how different categories relate to each other and identifying which category is the largest or smallest.

Example:
A group of 720 adults were surveyed about their favourite snacks. The pie chart below shows the result of the survey.


Can you tell how many people like sausage rolls?

Hint: How many degrees are there in a full circle? What fraction of the entire circle is taken up by sausage rolls? It is the same as the fraction of people who like sausage rolls.

Double bar graph

A double bar graph is a special type of graph that compares two sets of data side by side using bars. Each pair of bars represents a category or group, and their heights show the values or frequencies. It’s like having two bar graphs combined into one. Double bar graphs allow us to easily compare and contrast the data between the two groups and see any differences or similarities. They are helpful for analyzing and presenting data that involves comparing two variables or groups of information.

Example:
The table below shows the sports played by the boys and girls of Evergreen Middle School.

Sports Cricket Soccer Swimming Tennis Basketball Athletics Rugby
Number of boys 66 32 36 44 21 26 45
Number of girls 40 25 45 38 14 18 16


A double bar graph of the data above is shown below.


By looking at the graph (not the table above it!), can you tell the difference between the number of boys playing rugby and the number of girls playing cricket?

Wrap Up

As you wrap up your journey into the realm of Data Representation and Interpretation, remember that understanding graphs and charts is a valuable skill in year six maths and beyond. Equipped with the knowledge of the different types of graphs, you’re ready to unlock the power of data analysis. Should you ever need further assistance or have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us for expert guidance. Keep exploring, practising, and applying your newfound skills in the exciting world of data!