Drawing a Bar Graph

Class 6 Maths · Chapter 4: Data Handling and Presentation · NCERT Ganita Prakash section 4.4

Learn

Steps: draw a horizontal and a vertical line. Mark the groups along the bottom with equal gaps. Draw bars of the same width. Choose a scale for the vertical line, starting from 0.

Meher's family spends ₹3,600 on rent, ₹4,200 on food, ₹900 on school, ₹600 on electricity, ₹1,200 on travel and ₹1,500 on other things each month. With 1 unit = ₹300, divide to find each bar's height.

Finding the scale from a graph: the school canteen sold 18 sandwiches on Monday, and Monday's bar is 6 units tall. So the scale is 18 ÷ 6 = 3 sandwiches per unit. Then Friday's 24 sandwiches need 8 units.

18 ÷ 6 = 3 · 24 ÷ 3 = 8

Explore: draw bar graphs. Pick a bar, then drag it or use the buttons.

1. Draw Meher's family spending: rent 3,600, food 4,200, school 900, power 600, travel 1,200, other 1,500.
2. Zoya counted birds on a morning walk: sparrows 9, crows 7, pigeons 10, mynas 4, parrots 3. Draw them (1 unit = 1).

Remember

• Bar height = number ÷ scale. The scale must start at 0.
• Choose a scale so the graph fits nicely: not too tall, not too tiny.

Quick check

Scale: 1 unit = ₹300. How tall is the bar for ₹1,800?

1. 6 units
2. 18 units
3. 60 units
4. 3 units

Think about it

On Meher's graph, is the cost of electricity less than one-fifth of the cost of food?

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.