Grade 2 Data & Graphs: Line Plots
Read line plots of lengths measured in whole units
What You'll Learn
- Read a line plot: each X is one measured object
- Count how many objects have each length
- Find the most common length, totals and how many are longer
📖Line Plots
A line plot is a number line with X marks. Each X stands for one object, placed above its length.
💡Tip
To answer “how many are 5 inches long?”, find 5 on the number line and count the X’s above it.
Worked examples
Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.
Example 1
Leaf Lengths Each X is one leaf.
How many leaves are 4 centimeters long?
- Find 4 on the number line.
- Count the X’s above it: 4. Each X is one leaf.
- So 4 leaves measure 4 centimeters.
Answer: 4
Example 2
Pencil Lengths Each X is one pencil.
How many pencils are on the line plot in all?
- Each X is one pencil. Count the X’s above each number: 4 → 1, 5 → 4, 6 → 1, 8 → 1, 9 → 2, 10 → 3, 11 → 2.
- Add them all: 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 14. So there are 14 pencils in all.
Answer: 14
Example 3
Ribbon Lengths Each X is one ribbon.
How many ribbons are longer than 4 inches?
- Greater amounts are to the right of 4 on the number line (do not count the X’s at 4 itself).
- X’s to the right: 6 → 4, 7 → 4, 8 → 1.
- Add them: 4 + 4 + 1 = 9. So the answer is 9.
Answer: 9