Reading charts and tables
Strategy card
Interpret data precisely and know what it can and can't support.
- Step 1: Identify variables, units and scale.
- Step 2: Extract the needed values exactly.
- Step 3: Compute rates, averages, or percent change carefully.
- Step 4: Ask whether the claim goes beyond what the data shows.
Tip: Percent change = (new − old) ÷ old. The base matters.
Worked example
What is the percent change from Mar to Apr?
- A: +10%
- B: −11%
- C: −20%
- D: −10% (the answer)
Why: Change = 90 − 100 = -10. Divide by the starting value: -10 ÷ 100 = -0.1, which is −10%.
Your turn
Your turn 1 of 3
How many hundred visitors in all?
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hundred visitors | 25 | 30 | 15 | 20 | 80 |
Your turn 2 of 3
How many votes in all?
Your turn 3 of 3
How many cups in all?
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cups | 10 | 15 | 35 | 65 | 60 |
Keep practicing
Grown-ups: Talk about correlation vs. cause in a real article. Parent guide
Next lesson: Unknowns and balances