Maths: pictograms

A free preview from the Athena Learning Library — the same lesson registered students learn from.

In this lesson: Read pictograms where each symbol stands for more than one, including half symbols.

Before you start

A pictogram's key says one whole triangle stands for 10 votes. One row shows three whole symbols and a half. How many is that row — and how did you work out what the half symbol is worth?

Watch it happen

Uncover the pictogram, row by row

Pictogram of favourite fruit. Each full triangle stands for 2 votes. Melon: 10 (5 symbols); Grapes: 11 (5.5 symbols); Apples: 6 (3 symbols); Pears: 10 (5 symbols). The rows are uncovered one at a time.

Before counting anything, read the key at the top: each full triangle stands for 2 votes. The rows are still covered — but the key will be the same however many symbols a row has.

Step 1 of 5

Every row, read for you

The same pictogram with every row read for you: count the symbols, multiply by the key (2), and the value appears at the end of the row. Watch the half symbol: Grapes's half is worth 1, not 2.

Your turn: frame the fullest row

Move the frame up or down until it surrounds the row with the most votes.

Pictogram of favourite fruit. Each full triangle stands for 2 votes. Melon: 10 (5 symbols); Grapes: 11 (5.5 symbols); Apples: 6 (3 symbols); Pears: 10 (5 symbols). A frame surrounds one row.

Your target:

The idea

A pictogram uses pictures instead of bars. The key tells you what one whole symbol is worth — it might be 2, 4, 5 or 10, so read the key before counting anything.

Count the symbols in a row and multiply by the key value. Half a symbol means half the key value: if one symbol = 4 children, half a symbol = 2 children.

As with bar charts, write down each row's value first, then add or subtract to answer questions about totals or differences.

Worked example

The pictogram shows travel to school. How many children are there altogether?

Pictogram of travel to school. Each full square stands for 2 children. Car: 4 (2 symbols); Walk: 4 (2 symbols); Scooter: 7 (3.5 symbols); Cycle: 10 (5 symbols).

Read the key before anything else: each full symbol stands for 2 children, so a half symbol stands for 1.
Turn every row into a number: Car = 2 symbols × 2 = 4, Walk = 2 symbols × 2 = 4, Scooter = 3.5 symbols × 2 = 7, Cycle = 5 symbols × 2 = 10. (Watch the half: Scooter has one, worth 1, already counted.)
Add the rows: 4 + 4 + 7 + 10 = 25.

Answer: 25 children altogether.

Try one yourself

On this pictogram of favourite sport, how many more votes does Swimming have than Hockey?

Pictogram of favourite sport. Each full star stands for 2 votes. Cricket: 6 (3 symbols); Tennis: 9 (4.5 symbols); Swimming: 10 (5 symbols); Hockey: 2 (1 symbols).

Watch out

Counting symbols and forgetting to multiply by the key.
Treating a half symbol as a whole one (or ignoring it completely).
Not reading the key at all — keys change from chart to chart.

Quick check

Try these on your own first — then reveal each answer.

1. On this pictogram, the Class 6 row contains a half symbol. How many plants is the whole Class 6 row worth?

Pictogram of plants grown. Each full triangle stands for 2 plants. Class 3: 2 (1 symbols); Class 2: 12 (6 symbols); Class 1: 4 (2 symbols); Class 6: 7 (3.5 symbols).

2. On this pictogram, which row is worth most, and how many plants is it worth?

Pictogram of plants grown. Each full triangle stands for 2 plants. Class 1: 6 (3 symbols); Class 2: 3 (1.5 symbols); Class 5: 4 (2 symbols); Class 3: 12 (6 symbols).

Practise this concept

Reading is the first step — the concept sticks when your child answers questions on it. Registered students practise graded questions for this lesson, with instant marking and worked explanations, and the lesson is marked complete in their progress.

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