A pictogram is a very basic kind of graph that transforms a frequency chart into a graph, by using a simple picture to represent a certain number of items.

Let’s try making a pictogram to represent the number of students absent from school on each day of the week as per the following table:

Day	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
Number absent	2	3	5	1	7

A picture can represent more that one item. Let’s apply this to the table below showing how many cupcakes were sold on a cafe on each day it was open. We will need to include a key.

Day	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat
Cakes sold	35	7	28	42	35	56

Exercise

Note that the question numbering repeats itself. Please don’t let this distress you!

Answers

1. (a) 1 person pictured represents 5 people; (b) the scale; (c) walk – 50, cycle = 50, bus = 30
2. (a) 7, (b) 26, (c) 2/13
3. (a) 10, (b) cooking, (c) 32
4. (a) 20, (b) English, (c) Geography, (d) 70