3-63-1 Reading a Bar Graph

A bar graph is a graph that uses bars to show data.  Every bar graph has a Title at the top that tells you what the graph is about.  A bar graph also has a Scale, which are the numbers listed on one side of the graph.  The other side of the graph has words.  The highest or longest bar has the most.  The smallest or shortest bar has the least or fewest.

Bar graphs may be vertical or horizontal.  Vertical means the bars go up and down.  Horizontal means the bars go across.

The horizontal bar graph below uses a Scale of two.  This means the numbers in the Scale count by two (2, 4, 6, 8, 10).   Be careful when the bar ends between two numbers.

If the bar ends between 4 and 6, then the answer is 5.

If the bar ends between 8 and 10 then the answer is 9.

Look at the bar graph below.  Answer the questions that follow.

  1.  How many votes were there for Sunflower?

  2.  How many votes did Daisy get? 

  3.  How many votes were there for Tulip?

  4.  How many votes did Rose receive?

  5.  How many votes were there for Marigold?

  6.  How many votes did Zinnia receive?

  7.  Which flower received the most votes?

  8.  Which flower received the fewest votes?

  9.  How many more votes were there for Rose than Zinnia?

10.  How many more votes were there for Sunflower than Marigold?

11.  What is the Title of the bar graph?

Favorite Flowers

Kinds of Flowers

Number of Votes

12.  What is the name of the Scale part of the bar graph?

Favorite Flowers

Kinds of Flowers

Number of Votes