Interpreting Graphs
Graphs are efficient ways to present information in visual form. There are many different types of graphs, including line graphs, bar graphs, and pie charts. Look at the examples below and read the explanations that come with them. After you have studied the graphs, answer the questions at the end of each section.
A typical line graph shows information in two dimensions, the x-axis (horizontal) and the y-axis (vertical).
In this example, the lines of the graph show preferences for days of the week among four groups of people. Each day of the week is plotted according to the number of people who chose that day as their favorite within each group. It is easy to see trends among the four groups. For example, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are clearly preferred over other days of the week throughout all groups. It is also easy to see relationships between facts with a line graph. For example, it is easy to compare the preferences of one group with those of another.
Take another look at the graph and see if you can answer the following questions.
- Which day of the week is the most popular with the largest number of people?
- Which day of the week is the least favorite of the largest number of people?
- Which two groups show the biggest difference in their preferences for the same day?
- For which day of the week do all four groups have the greatest degree of agreement?