Pictograph Examples in Statistics

Start with the recap, study the fully worked examples, then use the practice problems to check your understanding of Pictograph.

This page combines explanation, solved examples, and follow-up practice so you can move from recognition to confident problem-solving in Statistics.

Concept Recap

A pictograph (or picture graph) displays data using pictures or symbols, where each picture represents a specific quantity. For example, if 🍎 = 5 apples, then 🍎🍎🍎 means 15 apples. A key (legend) always tells you what each symbol represents.

Instead of boring bars, pictographs use fun pictures to show data. If each smiley face means 2 students, and you see 5 smiley faces, that's 10 students! It makes data feel more real.

Read the full concept explanation →

How to Use These Examples

  • Read the first worked example with the solution open so the structure is clear.
  • Try the practice problems before revealing each solution.
  • Use the related concepts and background knowledge badges if you feel stuck.

What to Focus On

Core idea: Each symbol in a pictograph represents a fixed count given by the key. You must multiply the number of symbols by the key value to find the total.

Common stuck point: When a symbol is split (e.g., a half symbol), students forget to apply the key correctly — a half symbol means half the key value.

Sense of Study hint: First, choose a symbol and decide how many items each symbol represents (the key). Then draw the correct number of symbols for each category, using half-symbols for amounts that are not exact multiples. Finally, always include a key that tells the reader what each symbol represents.

Worked Examples

Example 1

easy
A pictograph shows the number of books read by four students. Each book symbol represents 2 books. Amy has 3 symbols, Ben has 5 symbols, Cara has 2 symbols, and Dan has 4 symbols. How many books did each student read?

Solution

  1. 1
    Step 1: Read the key: each symbol = 2 books.
  2. 2
    Step 2: Multiply the number of symbols by 2 for each student: Amy: 3 \times 2 = 6, Ben: 5 \times 2 = 10, Cara: 2 \times 2 = 4, Dan: 4 \times 2 = 8.
  3. 3
    Step 3: List the results: Amy read 6 books, Ben read 10 books, Cara read 4 books, Dan read 8 books.

Answer

Amy: 6 books, Ben: 10 books, Cara: 4 books, Dan: 8 books.
In a pictograph, each symbol represents a fixed number of items as shown in the key. To find the actual count, multiply the number of symbols by the value each symbol represents.

Example 2

medium
A pictograph uses a star symbol where each star represents 5 stickers. If one row shows 3 full stars and a half star, how many stickers does that represent? Explain what a half symbol means.

Practice Problems

Try these problems on your own first, then open the solution to compare your method.

Example 1

medium
A pictograph shows the number of goals scored by four teams. Each football symbol = 3 goals. Team W: 6 symbols, Team X: 4 symbols, Team Y: 7 symbols, Team Z: 5.5 symbols (half symbol included). How many more goals did Team Y score than Team Z?

Example 2

hard
You need to create a pictograph for this data: Red 18, Blue 27, Green 12, Yellow 9. Choose an appropriate key value and determine how many symbols each category needs.
← Back to Pictograph Practice Mode

Background Knowledge

These ideas may be useful before you work through the harder examples.

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