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Worksheet

Extension & Challenge — Interpreting Graphs

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Part A — Line Graphs

A line graph shows how something changes over time. The steeper the line between two points, the faster the change; a line going down shows a decrease.

A line graph of daily maximum temperature from Monday to Sunday, rising to a peak on Friday then falling.
Daily maximum temperature for one week.
1 Read the graph. What was the maximum temperature on Thursday? On Monday?

Thursday:   Monday:

2 Which day was the hottest, and which was the coolest?
3 Between which two consecutive days did the temperature rise the most? By how many degrees?
4 Find the difference between the hottest and the coolest day.

Answer:

5 On how many days was the maximum temperature above 25°C?

Answer:

6 Reasoning. Describe the overall trend across the week. Would this single week be enough to predict next week’s temperatures? Explain.

Part B — Pictographs & Column Graphs

Part B — Pictographs & Column Graphs

A pictograph uses a symbol to stand for a number of items, so you must read the key. A column graph shows amounts as bar heights, and a side-by-side column graph compares two groups at once.

A pictograph of books read this month where each star equals two books: Year 4 has three stars, Year 5 has four and a half stars, Year 6 has six stars.
Books read this month (each star = 2 books).
A side-by-side column graph of favourite sport, comparing boys and girls across soccer, netball, cricket and swimming.
Favourite sport, comparing boys and girls.
1 Use the pictograph. How many books did each year level read this month?

Year 4:   Year 5:   Year 6:

2 Year 5’s row shows a half star. Explain what the half star means and why it is needed.
3 How many books were read altogether by the three year levels? How many more did Year 6 read than Year 4?
4 Now use the side-by-side column graph below. Which sport is the most popular with boys? Which is most popular with girls?
5 For one sport of your choice, read off the number of boys and girls and find the total who chose it.
6 Reasoning. A pictograph uses a symbol for several items (here, one star = 2 books). Give one advantage and one disadvantage of a pictograph compared with a column graph.