Minds On

Pets at home

Check out the bar graph in the next section. Consider the following questions about this bar graph:

  • What is this graph about?
  • Were the people surveyed adults or children?
  • What is the most common household pet?
  • Which household pet was least common?
  • How many more people have dogs as pets over fish?
  • List three pets that might be part of the “other” category.

Action

Bar graphs

A bar graph displays data using bars that vary in height depending on your data. The bar graph in the Minds On displayed data on types of pets at home.

Bar graphs include:

  • a title
  • a labelled x-axis (horizontal axis)
  • a labelled y – axis (vertical axis)
  • a scale

Choose a data set. Use the data from the frequency table and construct a bar graph.

Data Set 1:

Visitors to the aquarium

Visitors

Tally

Frequency

Adults

25

Seniors

15

Children

50

Teens

35

Data Set 2:

Visitors to the aquarium shark tank

Time of Day Tally Frequency
Morning 60
Afternoon 100
Evening 30

Press ‘Hint’ to remember what a bar graph includes.

A bar graph includes:

  • a title for the whole graph
  • a label for the x – axis
  • a label for the y – axis
  • a scale – what will the numbers along the y-axis increase by? The numbers must increase by the same interval each time. Notice the numbers in your frequency column. Are they large? Could your scale increase by 10? Are the numbers small? Can your scale increase by 5?

Use the following bar graph interactive to build your bar graph. Once your bar graph is complete, make three conclusions about your data.

Consolidation

Independent task

Learners were surveyed and asked their favourite fruit. The frequency table below shows how many learners liked each fruit.

Type of Snack

Frequency

Apples

9

Bananas

12

Oranges

5

Strawberries

15
  • Using the frequency chart, create a bar graph.
  • Compose three or four questions about your graph that someone else could answer.

Press ‘Hint’ to remember what a bar graph includes.

A bar graph includes:

  • a title for the whole graph
  • a label for the x – axis
  • a label for the y – axis
  • a scale – what will the numbers along the y-axis increase by? The numbers must increase by the same interval each time. Notice the numbers in your frequency column. Are they large? Could your scale increase by ten? Are the numbers small? Can your scale increase by five?

Use the bar graph interactive to build your bar graph.

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity?  Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

Examine the following bar graph titled 'Favourite Aquarium Exhibit.'

Learner 1 surveyed 35 visitors to the aquarium.

  1. What question do you think they asked?
  2. Which scale did they use: two, five, ten? How do you know?
  3. Could they have used another scale?
  4. What three conclusions can you make about the data?