Grade 3 Data & Graphs: Scaled Bar Graphs
Read bar graphs with scales
What You'll Learn
- Read a scale that counts by 2s, 5s or 10s
- Read each bar’s amount off the scale
- Solve how many more, how many fewer and in-all problems
📖Scaled Graphs
The numbers on a scaled bar graph count by 2s, 5s or 10s. Follow the top of a bar across to the scale to read its amount.
💡Tip
Check what the scale counts by first. A bar 4 steps tall on a scale of 5 shows 4 × 5 = 20.
Worked examples
Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.
Example 1
Favorite Fruit How many students chose apples?
- Find the apples bar in the “Favorite Fruit” graph.
- The apples bar ends at the line for 18. The scale counts by 2s, so that is 9 steps of 2: 9 × 2 = 18.
- So 18 students chose apples.
Answer: 18
Example 2
Favorite Snacks How many fewer students chose yogurt than pretzels?
- The yogurt bar ends at the line for 14. The scale counts by 2s, so that is 7 steps of 2: 7 × 2 = 14.
- The pretzels bar ends at the line for 18. The scale counts by 2s, so that is 9 steps of 2: 9 × 2 = 18.
- Subtract to compare: 18 − 14 = 4. So 4 fewer students chose yogurt than pretzels.
Answer: 4
Example 3
Favorite Fruit Which fruit did the fewest students choose?
- Read where each bar ends on the scale (it counts by 10s): bananas 5 × 10 = 50, grapes 7 × 10 = 70, oranges 6 × 10 = 60, pears 9 × 10 = 90.
- The smallest amount is 50: it is less than 60, 70, 90.
- 50 belongs to bananas, so the answer is bananas.
Answer: bananas