Skill: Compare categories in a graph

Explanation and Free Practice Resources

Quantities in picture graphs and bar graphs are compared by reading each category’s count, identifying the greatest and least values, and determining how many more or fewer one category has than another through subtraction. The comparison applies to small whole-number data sets, typically with up to four categories and a one-to-one or single-unit scale; multi-unit scales and more advanced statistical comparisons are not included.

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Detailed Explanation: Compare categories in a graph

To compare categories in a graph:

Read the number for each category.
Find the category with the greatest number.
Find the category with the least number.
To find how many more or fewer, subtract the smaller number from the larger number.

Example: This bar graph shows students’ favorite fruits. Each block stands for $1$ student.

Fruit	Number of students
Apples	■■■■■ $= 5$
Bananas	■■■ $= 3$
Oranges	■■■■ $= 4$
Grapes	■■ $= 2$

Step 1: Find the greatest number.
Apples have $5$ students, which is the greatest number.

Step 2: Find the least number.
Grapes have $2$ students, which is the least number.

Step 3: Compare apples and grapes.
Subtract:

5-2=3

So, 3 more students chose apples than grapes. Grapes have 3 fewer students than apples.

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Graphing - Bar Graph (Single) - Difference of Two

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