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      Comparing statistical representations

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can see that different statistical representations offer different insights into a set of data.

      Key learning points

      1. A pie chart and a bar chart offer different insights.
      2. There are certain features of any representation that make it useful.

      Keywords

      • Pie chart - A pie chart (pie graph) is a circular graph where sectors represent different groups proportionally.

      • Bar chart - A bar chart (bar graph) is a graph consisting of bars visually representing the frequency of objects or groups.

      Common misconception

      Pie charts but not bar charts can show what proportion of a dataset a particular subgroup represents

      You can figure out proportion from a bar chart by comparing the frequency of one subgroup to the total frequency, by adding heights of bars.

      Teacher tip

      Encourage students to consider when they can gain broad or specific insights from the different statistical representations. Discuss scenarios where making calculations may not be necessary to answer a question.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      The bar chart shows the weather over 40 days one winter. What is the modal type of weather?

      An image in a quiz
      dry
      rain
      hail
      snow
      Correct answer: wind

      Q2.
      The bar chart shows the weather over 40 days one winter. How many more days were dry than had hail? days.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 8, eight

      Q3.
      The bar chart shows the weather over 40 days one winter. On what fraction of days did it rain? Give your answer in its simplest form.

      An image in a quiz
      1/5
      1/40
      Correct answer: 1/8
      1/2
      5/40

      Q4.
      This pie chart shows 60 vehicles that passed the road nearby a school. What is the modal vehicle that passed nearby the school?

      An image in a quiz
      motorbikes
      vans
      buses
      Correct answer: cars
      lorries

      Q5.
      This pie chart shows 60 vehicles that passed the road nearby a school. Which two vehicles were counted an equal number of times?

      An image in a quiz
      motorbikes
      Correct answer: vans
      Correct answer: buses
      cars
      lorries

      Q6.
      This pie chart shows 60 vehicles that passed the road nearby a school. Complete the statement: motorbikes passed nearby the school.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 15, fifteen

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match each statement to the graph (bar chart, pie chart, or both) from which the statement can most easily be found.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer:Lunch was the modal meal,both

      both

      Correct Answer:A quarter were breakfast,pie chart

      pie chart

      Correct Answer:One more dinner than breakfast,bar chart

      bar chart

      Q2.
      The pie chart and bar chart represent the same data set. Match the bars on the bar chart to the sectors of the pie chart.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer:a,summer

      summer

      Correct Answer:b,autumn

      autumn

      Correct Answer:c,spring

      spring

      Q3.
      The angle of the sector representing autumn on the pie chart is 90°. Using the bar chart, what will the angle of the sector representing spring on the pie chart be?

      An image in a quiz
      20°
      30°
      Correct answer: 45°
      90°

      Q4.
      The pie chart and bar chart represent the same data set. Which two school trips were equally popular?

      An image in a quiz
      theatre
      Correct answer: museum
      Correct answer: beach
      concert

      Q5.
      The angle of the sectors for museum and beach are both 80°. What should the height of the bar representing theatre be on the bar chart?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 20, twenty

      Q6.
      On this choropleth map, there is a new, quite densely populated settlement on the centre left of the map represented by 4 squares. The minimum population of this settlement is people.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 2500, 2,500, 2 500

      To help you plan your 8 maths lesson on: Comparing statistical representations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...