Data Interpretation

Grade 6 · statistics · 100 practice problems · read aloud

🔊 Listen to this explanation

Data Interpretation: Making Sense of Information

Data interpretation is the process of looking at collected information (data) and figuring out what it means. It's like being a detective for numbers! 🕵️ We use it to understand trends, compare groups, and make smart decisions based on facts.

How to Interpret Data: A Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Look at the Title: What is the data about?
  2. Check the Labels: What do the numbers represent?
  3. Find Key Numbers: Look for the highest, lowest, and most common values.
  4. Compare and Contrast: How do different parts of the data relate?
  5. Draw a Conclusion: What is the main story the data tells?

Worked Examples

Example 1: Favorite Ice Cream Flavors

A class of 30 students voted:

  • Chocolate: 12
  • Vanilla: 8
  • Strawberry: 6
  • Mint: 4

Step 1: The data is about favorite ice cream flavors.

Step 2: The numbers show how many students chose each flavor.

Step 3: Chocolate is the most popular (12 votes). Mint is the least popular (4 votes).

Conclusion: Chocolate is the class favorite, chosen by more students than any other flavor.

Example 2: Bar Graph - Books Read

A bar graph shows books read per month:

  • January: 5 books
  • February: 8 books
  • March: 3 books

Step 1: The graph tracks books read over three months.

Step 2: The bar height shows the number of books.

Step 3: February had the most books read (8). March had the fewest (3).

Conclusion: Reading was highest in February and dropped significantly in March.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Ignoring the Title/Labels: Always read them first! A graph about "Pets" is different from one about "Favorite Pets."
  • Misreading the Scale: On graphs, check if the numbers go up by 1s, 2s, 5s, or 10s.
  • Jumping to Conclusions: Don't guess what the data shows. Let the numbers tell the story.

Tips & Tricks

  • 🔄 Compare Parts to the Whole: Ask, "How does this piece relate to the total?"
  • 📈 Look for Patterns: Are the numbers increasing, decreasing, or staying the same?
  • 💡 Use a Highlighter: On paper, highlight the highest and lowest numbers to spot them quickly.

How to Practice

  • Interpret graphs and charts in your science or social studies textbook.
  • Create a survey with friends (like favorite video games) and graph the results.
  • Look for data in the real world, like sports statistics or weather reports.

Practice problems

6 of the 100, worked through step by step — try them before opening the answer.

1 (-12) × 3 + 45 ÷ (-9) = ?

Hint: Remember to follow the order of operations and pay attention to the signs when multiplying and dividing negative numbers.

Show the answer

Answer: -41

  1. First, perform the multiplication: (-12) × 3 = -36
  2. Next, perform the division: 45 ÷ (-9) = -5
  3. Now, add the results: -36 + (-5) = -41

The answer is -41.

2 (-12) × 3 + 48 ÷ (-4) = ?

Hint: Remember to follow the order of operations (PEMDAS) and pay attention to the signs when multiplying and dividing negative numbers.

Show the answer

Answer: -48

  1. First, perform the multiplication: (-12) × 3 = -36
  2. Next, perform the division: 48 ÷ (-4) = -12
  3. Now add the results: -36 + (-12) = -48
  4. The final answer is -48.

3 (-18) ÷ 3 + 5² - (-4) = ?

Hint: Remember to follow the order of operations and be careful with negative signs when performing division and exponentiation.

Show the answer

Answer: 23

  1. First, perform the division: (-18) ÷ 3 = -6
  2. Next, calculate the exponent: 5² = 25
  3. Now the expression is: -6 + 25 - (-4)
  4. Handle the subtraction of a negative: -6 + 25 + 4
  5. Add from left to right: -6 + 25 = 19
  6. 19 + 4 = 23
  7. The final answer is 23.

4 (-12) × 3 + 40 ÷ (-8) = ?

Hint: Remember to follow the order of operations when dealing with negative numbers and multiple operations.

Show the answer

Answer: -41

  1. First, perform the multiplication: (-12) × 3 = -36
  2. Next, perform the division: 40 ÷ (-8) = -5
  3. Now add the results: -36 + (-5) = -41

The answer is -41.

5 (-18) ÷ (-3) + 5² - 12 = ?

Hint: Remember to follow the order of operations and pay attention to negative number rules

Show the answer

Answer: 19

  1. Evaluate (-18) ÷ (-3) = 6 (dividing two negatives gives a positive)
  2. Evaluate 5² = 25
  3. Rewrite the expression: 6 + 25 - 12
  4. Add 6 + 25 = 31
  5. Subtract 12 from 31: 31 - 12 = 19

The answer is 19.

6 (-18) ÷ (-3) + 7² - 12 = ?

Hint: Remember to follow the order of operations and pay attention to negative signs and exponents.

Show the answer

Answer: 43

  1. Calculate the division first: (-18) ÷ (-3) = 6 (dividing two negatives gives a positive)
  2. Calculate the exponent: 7² = 49
  3. Rewrite the expression: 6 + 49 - 12
  4. Add from left to right: 6 + 49 = 55
  5. Subtract: 55 - 12 = 43
  6. The final answer is 43.
Practise this topic — 10 free problems, no signup →