Reading charts and tables
Strategy card
Data questions reward careful reading over speed.
- Step 1: Read the title, axis labels and units.
- Step 2: Find the exact values the question needs.
- Step 3: Compute (difference, total, average) step by step.
- Step 4: Check if the answer is reasonable.
Tip: Watch the units and the scale: is it tens or hundreds?
Worked example
Which day sold the fewest cups?
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cups | 22 | 36 | 30 | 14 | 16 |
- A: Fri
- B: Wed
- C: Thu (the answer)
- D: Tue
- E: Mon
Why: Thu has 14 cups, the lowest value.
Your turn
Your turn 1 of 3
How many more cups for Thu than for Wed?
Your turn 2 of 3
What is the mean (average)?
Your turn 3 of 3
Which month had the least rain?
Keep practicing
Grown-ups: Discuss a chart from the news: what does it show, and what does it not? Parent guide
Next lesson: Unknowns and balances