Topic E: Histograms

A histogram is a special bar graph that shows how a frequency (the number of times something happens) relates to a class interval (a range of numbers). A histogram is useful when looking at how many times something happens. It is useful to look at monthly or yearly temperatures, at test scores and groups of people based on age.

In the following graph, the height of each bar relates to how many days a temperature was between the listed temperatures in the horizontal axis.

This graph is created by counting how many days the temperatures were:

• between 0°C and −5°C (1 day)
• between −6°C and −10°C (6 days)
• between −11°C and −15°C (8 days)
• between −16°C and −20°C (5 days)
• between −21°C and −25°C (9 days)
• between −26°C and −30°C (2 days)

Then the information is put into graph form.

Graph 1

1. How many degrees in temperature change is in each bar?
2. What is the source of the information?
3. Which temperature was the most common in the month of January?
4. Which community does this graph represent?
5. Which temperature was felt the least in Atlin in January, 2010?

Answers to Graph 1

1. Five degrees
2. Environment Canada
3. −21°C to −25°C
4. Atlin, BC
5. −1°C to −5°C

Graph 2

In this Fundamentals Math course, students’ marks were collected from the final test. The graph shows the results.

1. How many students took the test?
2. How many students scored 80% to 89% on the test?
3. In order to pass, students must get 80% or over on the test. How many students will have to re-write the test?
4. How many more students got 80% to 89% than 90% to 100%?

Answers to Graph 2

1. 25
2. 12
3. 3
4. 2