Mathematics

Data Handling

Class 4 | CBSE / NCERT / ICSE

🎯 Learning Objectives

Read and interpret bar graphs.
Read pictographs where one symbol represents more than one unit.
Collect data and organise it in a table.
Answer questions based on information shown in graphs and tables.
Understand how to draw a simple bar graph.

📖 Let Us Begin!

In Class 3, you learned to read simple pictographs where one picture stood for one item. Now in Class 4, we will work with pictographs where one symbol can stand for 2, 5, 10, or even more items!

We will also learn to read and draw bar graphs. Imagine your class votes for their favourite fruit. A bar graph can show the results clearly so everyone can compare at a glance. Let us learn how data tells a story!

Image: A pictograph showing "Favourite Fruits in Class 4" with pictures of apple, mango, banana, grapes and a key showing each symbol = 2 students.
Title: Pictograph Example

Organising Data in a Table

Before making a graph, we first collect data and put it in a table (also called a tally table or frequency table).

Example

Example 1: Favourite Fruits of Class 4-B (40 students)

Fruit	Tally Marks	Number of Students
Mango	\|\|\|\| \|\|\|\| \|\|	12
Banana	\|\|\|\| \|\|\|	8
Apple	\|\|\|\| \|\|\|\|	10
Guava	\|\|\|\| \|	6
Orange	\|\|\|\|	4

Think: Which fruit is the most popular? Which is the least popular? How many more students like mango than orange?

Reading a Pictograph (1 Symbol = More Than 1)

In a pictograph, each symbol represents a certain number of items. A key tells you how much each symbol is worth.

Example

Example 2: Books Read by Students in a Week

Key: Each ★ = 5 books

Student	Symbols	Books Read
Amit	★ ★ ★	3 x 5 = 15
Priya	★ ★ ★ ★	4 x 5 = 20
Rahul	★ ★	2 x 5 = 10
Sneha	★ ★ ★ ★ ★	5 x 5 = 25

Sneha read the most books (25). Rahul read the fewest (10).

Difference between Priya and Rahul: 20 - 10 = 10 books.

Think: If the key says 1 symbol = 10 students, and you see 3 symbols, how many students does that represent?

Reading and Drawing Bar Graphs

A bar graph uses bars (rectangles) to show data. The height or length of each bar tells us the value.

Parts of a bar graph: Title (what the graph is about), X-axis (horizontal -- categories), Y-axis (vertical -- numbers/scale), and Bars.

Example

Example 3: Trees Planted by Different Classes

Class	Trees Planted
Class 3	20
Class 4	35
Class 5	25
Class 6	40

To draw a bar graph: Draw the X-axis (classes) and Y-axis (number of trees, scale: 0, 5, 10, ... 40). Draw a bar for each class reaching up to its value.

From the graph: Class 6 planted the most trees. Class 3 planted the fewest.

Steps to Draw a Bar Graph:

Draw two lines -- one horizontal (X-axis) and one vertical (Y-axis).
Label the X-axis with categories and the Y-axis with a number scale.
Choose a suitable scale (count by 5s or 10s).
Draw bars of equal width for each category. Leave equal gaps between bars.
Give the graph a title.

📝 Key Words

Word	Meaning
Data	Information collected about something
Pictograph	A graph that uses pictures or symbols to show data
Bar Graph	A graph that uses bars to compare data
Key (Legend)	Tells what each symbol in a pictograph represents
Scale	The numbers along the axis of a bar graph
Tally Marks	Marks used to count data; every 5th mark crosses the previous 4

⭐ Key Points to Remember

Always check the key in a pictograph to know the value of each symbol.
In a bar graph, the taller the bar, the greater the value.
Choose a scale that fits all the data (count by 2s, 5s, or 10s).
Data must be collected, organised in a table, and then shown in a graph.
You can compare, find totals, and find differences using graphs.

Finished learning? Now test what you know!

🎯 Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!

Answer these 8 questions about data handling. Read each one carefully and pick the best answer!

Score: 0 / 8

1. In a pictograph, what tells you the value of each symbol?

Always check the key in a pictograph to know how much each symbol stands for.

2. In a bar graph, a taller bar means the value is...

In a bar graph, the taller the bar, the greater the value.

3. If a pictograph key says one 🍎 = 5 apples, how many apples do 3 apple symbols show?

Each symbol = 5, so 3 symbols = 3 × 5 = 15 apples.

4. What must you do FIRST before making a graph?

Data must be collected, organised in a table, and then shown in a graph.

5. Choosing to count by 2s, 5s, or 10s on a bar graph is choosing the...

The scale is how you count up the side of a bar graph (by 2s, 5s, or 10s).

6. Which of these can you find using a graph?

You can compare, find totals, and find differences using graphs.

7. A pictograph key says one ⭐ = 10 marks. How many marks do 2 stars show?

Each star = 10, so 2 stars = 2 × 10 = 20 marks.

8. A drawing that uses pictures or symbols to show data is called a...

A pictograph uses pictures or symbols to show data, with a key giving each symbol's value.

✏️ Practice Questions

A. Fill in the Blanks

1. A graph that uses pictures to show data is called a .

2. In a pictograph, the tells us the value of each symbol.

3. A bar graph has two axes: the -axis and the -axis.

4. If one symbol = 10 and there are 4 symbols, the total is .

5. The height of a bar in a bar graph shows the of that category.

B. Read the Pictograph and Answer

Key: Each ★ = 10 runs. Virat: ★★★★★ | Rohit: ★★★★ | Sachin: ★★★★★★★ | Dhoni: ★★★

1. How many runs did Sachin score?

2. Who scored the fewest runs?

3. How many more runs did Virat score than Dhoni?

4. What is the total runs scored by all four players?

C. Read the Table and Answer

Mode of Travel	Number of Students
Bus	45
Auto	30
Bicycle	20
Walking	25
Car	15

1. Which mode of travel is used by the most students?

2. How many students travel by auto or bicycle?

3. How many more students take the bus than walk?

4. What is the total number of students?

D. Multiple Choice Questions

1. In a pictograph, if 1 symbol = 5 and a row has 6 symbols, the value is:

(a) 6(b) 11(c) 25(d) 30

2. Which part of a bar graph shows the categories?

(a) Title(b) Y-axis(c) X-axis(d) Scale

3. What do tally marks |||| ||| represent?

(a) 7(b) 8(c) 9(d) 6

E. Short Answer

1. Why is it important to have a key in a pictograph?

2. What scale would you choose for a bar graph if the highest value in your data is 50? Why?

🎨 Fun Activity -- Classroom Survey

Ask 20 classmates about their favourite sport. Record the data in the table below. Then use the data to draw a bar graph on a separate sheet.

Sport	Tally Marks	Number of Students
Cricket
Football
Kabaddi
Badminton
Kho-Kho

Want to review the lesson again?

🎯 Learning Objectives

Read and interpret bar graphs.
Read pictographs where one symbol represents more than one unit.
Collect data and organise it in a table.
Answer questions based on graphs and tables.
Draw a simple bar graph.

📖 Introduction

In Class 4, we work with pictographs where one symbol can stand for 2, 5, 10, or more items. We also learn to read and draw bar graphs to compare data at a glance.

[Image: Pictograph Example — "Favourite Fruits in Class 4" with pictures of apple, mango, banana, grapes and a key showing each symbol = 2 students]

Organising Data in a Table

Ex 1: Favourite Fruits of Class 4-B (40 students)

Fruit	Tally	Students
Mango	\|\|\|\| \|\|\|\| \|\|	12
Banana	\|\|\|\| \|\|\|	8
Apple	\|\|\|\| \|\|\|\|	10
Guava	\|\|\|\| \|	6
Orange	\|\|\|\|	4

Reading a Pictograph

Ex 2: Books Read (Key: Each ★ = 5 books)

Student	Symbols	Books
Amit	★ ★ ★	15
Priya	★ ★ ★ ★	20
Rahul	★ ★	10
Sneha	★ ★ ★ ★ ★	25

Bar Graphs

A bar graph uses bars to show data. Parts: Title, X-axis (categories), Y-axis (scale), Bars.

Steps: 1. Draw X and Y axes. 2. Label them. 3. Choose scale. 4. Draw bars of equal width. 5. Add title.

Key Words

Word	Meaning
Data	Information collected
Pictograph	Graph using pictures/symbols
Bar Graph	Graph using bars to compare
Key (Legend)	Shows what each symbol means
Scale	Numbers along the axis
Tally Marks	Counting marks (5th crosses 4)

⭐ Key Points to Remember

Always check the key in a pictograph to know the value of each symbol.
In a bar graph, the taller the bar, the greater the value.
Choose a scale that fits all the data (count by 2s, 5s, or 10s).
Data must be collected, organised in a table, then shown in a graph.
You can compare, find totals, and find differences using graphs.

A. Fill in the Blanks

1. A graph that uses pictures to show data is called a .

2. In a pictograph, the tells us the value of each symbol.

3. A bar graph has two axes: the -axis and the -axis.

4. If one symbol = 10 and there are 4 symbols, the total is .

5. The height of a bar shows the of that category.

B. Read the Pictograph and Answer

Key: Each ★ = 10 runs. Virat: ★★★★★ | Rohit: ★★★★ | Sachin: ★★★★★★★ | Dhoni: ★★★

1. How many runs did Sachin score?

2. Who scored the fewest runs?

3. How many more runs did Virat score than Dhoni?

4. Total runs by all four players?

C. Read the Table and Answer

Mode of Travel	Students
Bus	45
Auto	30
Bicycle	20
Walking	25
Car	15

1. Most used mode of travel?

2. Students by auto or bicycle?

3. How many more take bus than walk?

4. Total number of students?

D. Multiple Choice Questions

1. If 1 symbol = 5 and a row has 6 symbols, the value is:

(a) 6(b) 11(c) 25(d) 30

2. Which part of a bar graph shows categories?

(a) Title(b) Y-axis(c) X-axis(d) Scale

3. What do tally marks |||| ||| represent?

(a) 7(b) 8(c) 9(d) 6

E. Short Answer

1. Why is it important to have a key in a pictograph?

2. What scale would you choose for a bar graph if the highest value is 50? Why?

🎨 Activity — Classroom Survey

Ask 20 classmates about their favourite sport. Record below.

Sport	Tally Marks	Students
Cricket
Football
Kabaddi
Badminton
Kho-Kho

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Data Handling

🎯 Learning Objectives

📖 Let Us Begin!

Organising Data in a Table

Reading a Pictograph (1 Symbol = More Than 1)

Reading and Drawing Bar Graphs

📝 Key Words

🎯 Quick Quiz — Test Yourself!

✏️ Practice Questions

Data Handling

Data Handling (continued)