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QQuanta KidsBy IIT & ISB Alumni
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Concept 4 of 6

Reading Bar Graphs

1

Today's big idea

Read the top of each bar across to the scale on the side.

The red bar reaches 9, so red is 9.

2

How it works

👀 What's going on?

A bar graph turns numbers into heights. Taller bar, bigger number.

💡 Here's the trick

Read the top of the bar0246810Blue6Red9Green4

Read the top of each bar across to the scale on the side to find its number.

The blue bar reaches 6 and the red bar reaches 9, so blue is 6 and red is 9.

✍️ Try it

A bar reaches the line marked 8. What number is it? → 8.

⚠️ Watch out

Read where the TOP of the bar lines up, not the bottom.

3

Watch me solve one

Quanta solves it

“Watch how I think through one of these — then you try.”

THE PROBLEM

“A bar's top lines up with 5 on the scale. What number is it?”

  1. 1

    Follow the top across

    Read where the TOP of the bar meets the scale.

  2. 2

    Read the number

    It lands on 5.

  3. 3

    Answer ✓

    5

Now you try one — same steps, different story 👇

4

See it in action

⚡ Time to play!

Follow the top of the bar across to the scale.

0246810

What number does the bar show?

5

Quick check

✅ VERIFICATION

A bar's top lines up with 7 on the scale. What number is it?

⚡ Finish the activity above first to answer.

Keep going!

Up next: Most & Least

Most is the tallest, least is the shortest.

Concept 5 of 6