Learning resource on pie and bar charts created as part of a pilot project to assist higher education tutors who are faced with demands, across all 4 nations of the UK, to improve the numeracy skills of all those studying in order to work with children and young people.

1. Sample questions on pie charts and bar
charts

2. What are significant figures?
Before listening to the questions you need to understand
what significant figures are.
If you need an explanation of this, take a look at this BBC
Bitesize page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/maths/number/rounde
You are asked to give your answers to these questions ‘to
3 significant figures’ or 3 s.f.

3. ChartsVideo clip01………0.00 – 0.46
Pie Charts
3
Click on the image below to play the video

4. 4
Question:
The pie chart below shows the destinations of 561,575 trained teachers in
various parts of Canada over the last two decades.
What percentage of trained teachers could be found in Edmonton?
Work out your answer with a calculator before moving to the next slide.

5. ChartsVideo clip02………0.50 – 1.35
5
Click on the image below to play the video

6. 6
Answer:
The Pie Chart below shows the destinations of 561,575 trained
teachers in various parts of Canada over the last two decades.
What percentage of trained teachers could be found in Edmonton?
Answer: 25.8%
144,615 x 100% = 25.8%
561,575 (3 s.f.*)
* s.f. = significant figures

7. Bar Charts
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Click on the image below to play the video
Now a question on a bar chart

8. Question:
You are given data on 30 pupils in your Year 7 class. They
have just completed a test out of 50. You have set the ‘pass’
mark at 25 out of 50.
What percentage of the class, correct to three significant
figures, passed the test?
5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-50
Year 7 class test results

9. Bar Charts
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Click on the image below to play the video

10. Answer:
You are given data on 30 pupils in your Year 7 class. They have just
completed a test out of 50. You have set the ‘pass’ mark at 25 out of 50.
What percentage of the class, correct to three significant figures, passed the
test? Answer: 36.7%
3+4+2+1+1 = 11 pupils scored 25 or more.
Answer = (11 ÷ 30) x 100 = 36.7%
5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-50
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4
2
1 1
2
4
5
8
Year 7 class test results

11. Need more practice with bar charts?
Bar charts:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/maths/handling_data/repre
senting_data/revision/2/
http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/bar-graphs.html
http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/graphs/bar_graph.html
http://www.lofoya.com/Data-Interpretation/Bar-
Charts/intro.htm
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/flash.aspx?f=barchartv2

12. Pie charts:
http://www.subtangent.com/maths/piecharts.php
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/maths/handling_data/repre
senting_data/revision/5/
http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/pie-charts.html
http://www.indiabix.com/data-interpretation/pie-charts/
Need more practice with pie charts?
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