Data: Tables, Bar Graphs and Averages: Class 5 Study Guide
Data is information collected to answer a question. Tables and graphs show it clearly.
Data is a set of facts, such as the number of students who like each sport, or the rainfall in each month. We collect it with a tally chart, then show it in a table or a bar graph.
The examples below use made-up numbers to show the method. A bar graph has a title, labels on both axes, a scale that goes up evenly and bars of equal width.
From a table to a graph
This table is an example of a class survey on favourite sports.
| Sport | Students |
|---|---|
| Cricket | 14 |
| Football | 8 |
| Kabaddi | 6 |
| Badminton | 12 |
Reading a bar graph
Look at the title, then the labels. Find the top of a bar and read across to the scale. In the table above, cricket is the tallest bar at 14 students. Football has 8, so cricket has 14 − 8 = 6 more than football. The total number of students is 14 + 8 + 6 + 12 = 40.
What is it about?
Each axis.
Use the scale.
Compare or add.
Average (mean)
The average, or mean, of some numbers is their sum divided by how many there are. The marks 6, 8, 7, 9 and 10 add up to 40. The average is 40 ÷ 5 = 8. The average does not have to be one of the numbers.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: The mean of 4, 6 and 8 is (4 + 6 + 8) ÷ 3 = 6. Example: Which sport in the table is least popular? Kabaddi, with 6 students. Common mistakes: dividing by the wrong number of items, starting a scale at a different number for each bar, and forgetting the title and labels.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. 14 − 6 = 8 more. 2. (5 + 7 + 9) ÷ 3 = 7. 3. A title, labels on both axes and an even scale.
✨ Key Takeaways
- A table shows data in rows and columns.
- A bar graph needs a title, labels and an even scale.
- Average = sum ÷ number of items.
- Read the scale carefully.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Use the table to say how many more students like cricket than kabaddi.
- Find the mean of 5, 7 and 9.
- What does a graph need for the reader to understand it?