Read a Bar Graph

How to read a bar graph

1. Read the title and labels first. The title tells you what the graph is about. The labels on the horizontal and vertical axes tell you what each bar represents and what the numbers mean.

2. Check the scale carefully. Look at how the numbers increase on the axis. Each tick mark may count by 1, 2, 5, 10, or another amount. Do not assume every mark is 1.

3. Match each bar to its category. Find the category name under or beside the bar, then read the bar’s height up to the correct value on the scale.

4. Answer the question using the bar heights. If the problem asks for one value, state the number shown by that bar. If it asks for a comparison, compare the heights. If it asks for a total, add the values from the relevant bars.

5. Simplify the final answer. Give the answer in the simplest form requested, with the correct unit or label if one is shown.

Quick check

• Make sure you used the correct scale.
• Re-read the graph to confirm the bar height.
• If you add numbers, check the sum again.

Exemple de méthode mentale

If two bars look close, compare them against the tick marks instead of estimating by eye.