Comparative and composite bar charts

The Maths Habit

Which tower is taller? Which tower has more striped blocks?

AB

B is taller. A has more striped blocks.

Comparative bar chart
Two bars side by side for each group, to compare them.
Composite bar chart
Each bar is split into parts. The top of the bar is the total.
BoysGirls
Key
Shows what each kind of bar stands for.
0246
Scale
The numbers on an axis. They go up in equal steps.

Count up. What are the missing numbers?

10,2,4,6,8,10
20,5,10,15,20,25
30,10,20,30,40,50

How many girls have a dog?

048121620CatDogFishBoysGirlsPetFrequency
  1. 1Find the scale.One square is 2
  2. 2Use the key.Girls are the striped bars.
  3. 3Read the number.Go across with a ruler. Girls = 6

How many girls chose cat?

0246810CatDogFishBoysGirlsPetFrequency
1Find the scale.One square is1
2Use the key.3Read the number.
Girls =9

How many Year 8 students chose milk?

048121620TeaMilkJuiceYear 7Year 8DrinkFrequency
1Find the scale.One square is2
2Use the key.3Read the number.
Year 8 =12

How many girls chose cat?

0246810CatDogFishBoysGirlsPetFrequency
1Find the scale.One square is1
2Use the key.3Read the number.
Girls =9

How many boys chose red?

048121620RedBlueGreenBoysGirlsColourFrequency
1Find the scale.One square is2
2Use the key.3Read the number.
Boys =16
1Find the scale.2Use the key.3Read the number.

How many girls chose cat?

0246810CatDogFishBoysGirlsPetFrequency
1Find the scale.One square is1
2Use the key.3Read the number.
Girls =9

How many cakes did shop B sell on Wednesday?

01020304050MonTueWedShop AShop BDayCakes
1Find the scale.One square is5
2Use the key.3Read the number.
Shop B =30
1Find the scale.2Use the key.3Read the number.

How many girls chose cat?

0246810CatDogFishBoysGirlsPetFrequency
1Find the scale.One square is1
2Use the key.3Read the number.
Girls =9

How many people visited café B in February?

020406080100JanFebMarCafé ACafé BMonthVisitors
1Find the scale.One square is10
2Use the key.3Read the number.
Café B =70
1Find the scale.2Use the key.3Read the number.

Read the number from each comparative bar chart.

1How many Year 10 students chose pool?

0246810ChessCardsPoolYear 9Year 10GameFrequency
1Find the scale.
One square is1
2Use the key.
3Read the number.
Year 10 =8

2How many boys chose kiwi?

048121620AppleKiwiMangoBoysGirlsFruitFrequency
1Find the scale.
One square is2
2Use the key.
3Read the number.
Boys =16

3How many people went by train on Thursday?

01020304050ThuFriSatBusTrainDayFrequency
1Find the scale.
One square is5
2Use the key.
3Read the number.
Train =30
1Find the scale.2Use the key.3Read the number.

How many tubs were sold on Saturday?

048121620FriSatSunConesTubsDayIce creams
  1. 1Find the scale.One square is 2
  2. 2Use the key.Tubs are the striped part, on top.
  3. 3Top take away bottom.Tubs = 14 − 8 = 6

How many tubs were sold on Wednesday?

0246810MonTueWedConesTubsDayIce creams
1Find the scale.One square is1
2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.
Tubs =9−4=5

How many cold drinks were sold on Saturday?

048121620FriSatSunHotColdDayDrinks
1Find the scale.One square is2
2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.
Cold =14−8=6

How many tubs were sold on Wednesday?

0246810MonTueWedConesTubsDayIce creams
1Find the scale.One square is1
2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.
Tubs =9−4=5

How many students came by bus in January?

048121620JanFebMarWalkBusMonthStudents
1Find the scale.One square is2
2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.
Bus =16−4=12
1Find the scale.2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.

How many tubs were sold on Wednesday?

0246810MonTueWedConesTubsDayIce creams
1Find the scale.One square is1
2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.
Tubs =9−4=5

How many child tickets were sold on Friday?

01020304050ThuFriSatAdultChildDayTickets
1Find the scale.One square is5
2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.
Child =40−10=30
1Find the scale.2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.

How many tubs were sold on Wednesday?

0246810MonTueWedConesTubsDayIce creams
1Find the scale.One square is1
2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.
Tubs =9−4=5

How many vans were washed in week 3?

020406080100Wk 1Wk 2Wk 3CarsVansWeekWashed
1Find the scale.One square is10
2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.
Vans =80−20=60
1Find the scale.2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.

Find the part on top of each composite bar.

1How many coffees were sold on Tuesday?

0246810MonTueWedTeaCoffeeDayDrinks
1Find the scale.
One square is1
2Use the key.
3Top take away bottom.
Coffee =9−3=6

2How many bikes were parked on Saturday?

048121620FriSatSunCarsBikesDayParked
1Find the scale.
One square is2
2Use the key.
3Top take away bottom.
Bikes =16−6=10

3How many girls are in choir?

01020304050ArtChessChoirBoysGirlsClubMembers
1Find the scale.
One square is5
2Use the key.
3Top take away bottom.
Girls =35−10=25
1Find the scale.2Use the key.3Top take away bottom.

Is it right? Thumbs up or thumbs down.

048121620MonTueWedConesTubsDayIce creams
  1. ATubs on Mon = 12Wrong: 6
  2. BCones on Tue = 4Right
  3. CTubs on Tue = 14Wrong: 10
  4. DTubs on Wed = 4Right

Comparative and composite bar charts worksheet, page 1

Comparative and composite bar charts worksheet, page 2

Answer sheet

  1. A composite bar goes up to 30. Its bottom part goes up to 12. How big is the top part?

    18

  2. You want to show the total for each day. Which chart shows it best: comparative or composite?

    Composite

  3. The number of tubs sold is counted, not measured. Is it discrete or continuous data?

    Discrete

  1. How many boys chose judo? 1Find the scale.One square is22Use the key.3Read the number.Boys =10

    Boys = 10
    0246810GolfJudoBoysGirls

  2. How many tubs were sold on Saturday? 1Find the scale.One square is52Use the key.3Top take away bottom.Tubs =25−5=20

    20
    0102030SatSunConesTubs

  3. In question 2, how many tubs were sold on Sunday?

    10
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