Picture graphs, step by step

A picture graph counts symbols instead of gridlines.

The question
Our favorite sport
FootballSwimmingRunningCycling

Each ● stands for 2.

How many fewer chose cycling than chose football?

Our favorite sport

key:1 = 2 votes
Football:10 drawn20 votes
Swimming:2 drawn4 votes
Running:1 drawn2 votes
Cycling:5 drawn10 votes
Football:10 drawn20 votes
Swimming:2 drawn4 votes
Running:1 drawn2 votes
Cycling:5 drawn10 votes
10 votes
  1. Check the key FIRST. One picture stands for 2 votes, not one — so counting pictures gives you the wrong number unless you multiply.
  2. So multiply each row by 2: Football has 10 × 2 = 20, Swimming has 2 × 2 = 4, Running has 1 × 2 = 2, Cycling has 5 × 2 = 10.
  3. Now the question, on the NUMBERS rather than the marks: Cycling is 20 − 10 = 10 fewer than Football. So the answer is 10 votes.

How it works.

  1. 01

    Check the key FIRST. One picture stands for 2 votes, not one — so counting pictures gives you the wrong number unless you multiply.

  2. 02

    So multiply each row by 2: Football has 10 × 2 = 20, Swimming has 2 × 2 = 4, Running has 1 × 2 = 2, Cycling has 5 × 2 = 10.

  3. 03

    Now the question, on the NUMBERS rather than the marks: Cycling is 20 − 10 = 10 fewer than Football. So the answer is 10 votes.