Creating a Picture Graph
A picture graph shows data with pictures instead of numbers alone. Each picture stands for a fixed amount, so the first job is to read the key carefully.
1) Read the data and the key
- List the category names.
- Find out what one picture represents, such as 1, 2, or 5 items.
- If half-pictures are used, note what part of the amount they represent.
2) Convert the counts into pictures
- Divide each category total by the amount shown by one picture.
- Use whole pictures when the total is a multiple of the key.
- Use half-pictures only when the key allows it and the total is not a whole number of pictures.
3) Draw neatly and label clearly
- Put each category under or beside its row.
- Draw the correct number of pictures for each category.
- Keep spacing even so the graph is easy to read.
4) Simplify the final answer
If the exercise asks for a simplified answer, make sure your final count is in its simplest form. That means no extra fractions or unsimplified values.
5) Check your work
- Multiply the number of pictures by the key amount.
- Make sure each category matches the original data.
- Compare categories to see whether the graph shows the correct larger and smaller amounts.
A good check is to read the graph back as data and confirm it matches the original list exactly.