Comparing two categories involves interpreting their counts in a picture graph, bar graph, or organized list to determine which has more, fewer, or the same number of items and, when they differ, how many more or fewer. The comparison is based on the numerical difference between category totals, not on the visual size or length of symbols alone; ratios, fractions, percentages, and comparisons across many categories are beyond this scope.
To compare two categories, first find how many items are in each category. Then decide which number is greater, less, or the same. If the numbers are different, find how many more or fewer by counting on or subtracting.
Example: Favorite Fruits
| Fruit | Number of students |
|---|---|
| Apples | 6 |
| Bananas | 4 |
Compare apples and bananas:
So, 2 more students chose apples than bananas. Bananas had 2 fewer students than apples.
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