Bar graphs are charts that use bars of different lengths to show and compare data. Each bar represents a group, and the length of the bar tells how many are in that group.
A class votes on their favorite fruit. The bar graph shows how many students chose apples, bananas, and grapes.
Each bar graph has a title that tells what the graph is about, labels for each group, and a scale that shows the numbers.
To identify data in a bar graph, look at the length of each bar and match it to the scale. This tells you how many items are in each group.
The taller or longer the bar, the greater the number. A shorter bar means a smaller number.
Reading data means finding the exact number shown by a bar on the graph.
In a graph showing favorite pets:
The graph shows that more students chose dogs than cats or fish.
You can compare groups by asking, “Which bar is taller?” or “How many more does one group have than another?”
Comparing data means looking at two or more bars to see which group has more, less, or the same amount. Interpreting data means explaining what the graph is telling you.
If the graph shows:
You can say: “There are the same number of red and green balloons. There are more red balloons than blue balloons.”
Always use the numbers on the graph to support your answer, not just what looks bigger or smaller.