INGLES GRAPHS AND CHARTS
Prof. JOAO ALMEIDA
INTERPRETING GRAPHS AND CHARTS
Graphs and charts are used to give a visual representation of data. They condense large amounts
of information into easy-to-understand formats that clearly and effectively communicate important
points.
Reading a graph or chart means that we can look at the chart or graph and understand what it is
trying to tell us. It involves picking out data points of interest and gives a quick synopsis of what the
graph is about. Interpreting a graph or chart involves digging a little deeper. This may include
completing calculations to determine an average or a sum or difference of data values.
1.1 – Interpreting a bar graph
The horizontal bar graph shows the percentage of people aged 65 or older in each Local Health
District of Utah in 2020
Based on the graphs above, answer:
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GRAPHS AND CHARTS
A. Estimate the percentage of people who are 65 years old or older in the United States?
B. Which areas have more percentage of people who are 65 years old or older than the percentage in
the United States?
C. Which area has the lowest percentage of people who are 65 years old or older?
D. What other information would you need to know to be able to calculate a mean from this data?
1.2 – Interpreting a bar graph
The bar graph shows the graduation rates by race/ethnicity within 6 years from first institution
attended for first-time, full-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students at 4-year postsecondary
institutions, where the cohort entry year is 2010.
A. What is the difference (in percentage) between the highest and lowest graduation rates?
B. A student claims that there were more Asians who graduated within 6 years compared to the other
ethnic groups. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.
Sometimes two line graphs are combined onto a single graph to highlight what is happening with
the data or to tell a story. They may or may not use the same vertical scale. It is important to
recognize the scale for each line graph. This is often done using color coding.
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GRAPHS AND CHARTS
2.1 – Reading and Interpreting a line graph
The line graph shows the number of visitors (the green line) and the number of full-time equivalent
employees (FTE, the orange line) of Zion National Park from 2010 to 2022. FTE means the total
full-time employees and part-time employees that add up to full-time employees (e.g., four part-time
employees who work 10 hours each per week add up to make one full-time employee who works 40
hours per week).
A. Describe the trend of the upper, green line.
B. Describe the trend of the lower, orange line.
C. What was the increase in visits from 2010 to 2022?
D. What was the decrease in FTE from 2010 to 2022?
E. The upper (green) and lower (orange) lines get further apart as the graphs move from 2010 to 2022.
What does this tell us?
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GRAPHS AND CHARTS
2.2 – Interpreting line graphs
The two graphs show the growth (Chart 2) and loss (Chart 3) of non-government-controlled
businesses from 2016 to 2021 in terms of the number of jobs offered (gross job gains) and the
number of jobs lost (gross job losses). Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment due
to expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments.
Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the
loss of jobs at closing establishments.
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GRAPHS AND CHARTS
A. What does the top graph (Chart 2) tell us about Utah’s job growth rate compared to the job growth
rate of the U.S.?
B. What does the bottom graph (Chart 3) tell us about Utah’s job loss rate compared to the job loss rate
of the U.S.?
C. It has been said that Utah’s business growth rate is near the top of all states in the US. Is the
statement true, according to the two line graphs? Explain your reasoning.
D. A student claims that Utah’s business growth from 2016 to 2019 was a lot better than the average
growth of the United States because the distance between the two lines (dark and light blue) is quite
large. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.
E. What does the grey vertical rectangle represent on the graphs?
F. What was the highest job loss rate for the U.S. and for Utah? How does it relate to the recession
period?
3.1 – Interpreting a pie chart
The pie chart shows the percentage distribution of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA)
Budget to different programs for the fiscal year 2021. The total budget amount was $6.1 billion
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GRAPHS AND CHARTS
A. What is the sum of the percentages on the pie chart?
B. Which program received the most money? How much did it receive?
C. Which program received the least money? How much did it receive?
D. How much money was designated for Foods?
E. How much money was designated for Tobacco?
F. How much more money did human drugs receive than Foods?
G. A student claims that 1/3 of the money was designated for Human Drugs. Is the student’s claim
correct? Explain your reasoning.
3.2 – Interpreting pie charts
The two pie charts show the water use percentages of different categories in Utah. The first (top)
pie chart shows all categories of water use in Utah. The second (bottom) pie chart shows all
categories of non-irrigation water use.
A. What percentage of Utah water is used for non-irrigation?
B. What percentage of non-irrigation water is used for non-residential purposes?
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GRAPHS AND CHARTS
C. True or False (Justify your answer): The residential water use is about 1/2 of the non-irrigation water
use in the second pie chart. Therefore, the percentage of residential water use should be about half of
the non-irrigation water use in the first pie chart.
D. If Utah were to cut its water use, which sector should be mandated to cut its water use? Explain your
reasoning.
4 – Interpreting a histogram
The histogram shows the box office revenue for movies in the US from 2012 – 2021 in billions of
dollars.
A. Which year had the lowest box office revenue?
B. Which year had a box office revenue of $10.9 billion
C. What is the median revenue?
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