Read a double bar graph
3.MD.B.3
Generated variants — 8
A class surveyed how many cars and how many trucks the students own, sorted by color. The results are shown in a double bar graph in which each item displays two data sets (blue and purple) side by side. For both cars and trucks, a blue bar and a purple bar are drawn next to each other.
For each item, compare the difference between the blue count and the purple count, and determine which item — cars or trucks — has the larger difference between the two colors.
The horizontal axis lists cars and trucks, and each item shows a pair of bars, one blue and one purple. The legend identifies the blue and purple bars.
Show solution
Understand
A double bar graph shows two color counts (blue and purple) for each of two items: cars and trucks. For each item, find the difference between its two bars, then say which item has the larger blue-vs-purple difference.
- Each item (cars, trucks) has a blue bar and a purple bar side by side
- A legend tells which bar is blue and which is purple
- Cars: blue = 10, purple = 6; Trucks: blue = 5, purple = 2
- The difference between the two colors for each item
- Which item has the larger between-color difference
- The difference is found per item by subtracting the shorter bar from the taller bar
- Comparison is made between the two items' differences
Plan
#1 Draw a Diagram · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
The grouped bars are the diagram; for each item we solve a small subtraction subproblem (taller bar minus shorter bar), then compare the two gaps to pick the larger one.
Execute
Review
The differences are 4 (cars) and 3 (trucks), so the named item matches the wider gap.
Look for a pattern (tool 5): scan both pairs at once and pick the pair whose two bar-tops are spaced farthest apart.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.B.3Draw and interpret scaled picture graphs and bar graphs — Reading paired bars in a double bar graph and comparing within-item differences
A class surveyed how many cats and how many dogs the students own, sorted by color. The results are shown in a double bar graph in which each item displays two data sets (orange and pink) side by side. For both cats and dogs, a orange bar and a pink bar are drawn next to each other.
For each item, compare the difference between the orange count and the pink count, and determine which item — cats or dogs — has the larger difference between the two colors.
The horizontal axis lists cats and dogs, and each item shows a pair of bars, one orange and one pink. The legend identifies the orange and pink bars.
Show solution
Understand
A double bar graph shows two color counts (orange and pink) for each of two items: cats and dogs. For each item, find the difference between its two bars, then say which item has the larger orange-vs-pink difference.
- Each item (cats, dogs) has a orange bar and a pink bar side by side
- A legend tells which bar is orange and which is pink
- Cats: orange = 4, pink = 9; Dogs: orange = 7, pink = 1
- The difference between the two colors for each item
- Which item has the larger between-color difference
- The difference is found per item by subtracting the shorter bar from the taller bar
- Comparison is made between the two items' differences
Plan
#1 Draw a Diagram · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
The grouped bars are the diagram; for each item we solve a small subtraction subproblem (taller bar minus shorter bar), then compare the two gaps to pick the larger one.
Execute
Review
The differences are 5 (cats) and 6 (dogs), so the named item matches the wider gap.
Look for a pattern (tool 5): scan both pairs at once and pick the pair whose two bar-tops are spaced farthest apart.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.B.3Draw and interpret scaled picture graphs and bar graphs — Reading paired bars in a double bar graph and comparing within-item differences
A class surveyed how many colored pencils and how many crayons the students own, sorted by color. The results are shown in a double bar graph in which each item displays two data sets (orange and yellow-green) side by side. For both colored pencils and crayons, a orange bar and a yellow-green bar are drawn next to each other.
For each item, compare the difference between the orange count and the yellow-green count, and determine which item — colored pencils or crayons — has the larger difference between the two colors.
The horizontal axis lists colored pencils and crayons, and each item shows a pair of bars, one orange and one yellow-green. The legend identifies the orange and yellow-green bars.
Show solution
Understand
A double bar graph shows two color counts (orange and yellow-green) for each of two items: colored pencils and crayons. For each item, find the difference between its two bars, then say which item has the larger orange-vs-yellow-green difference.
- Each item (colored pencils, crayons) has a orange bar and a yellow-green bar side by side
- A legend tells which bar is orange and which is yellow-green
- Colored pencils: orange = 6, yellow-green = 4; Crayons: orange = 10, yellow-green = 4
- The difference between the two colors for each item
- Which item has the larger between-color difference
- The difference is found per item by subtracting the shorter bar from the taller bar
- Comparison is made between the two items' differences
Plan
#1 Draw a Diagram · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
The grouped bars are the diagram; for each item we solve a small subtraction subproblem (taller bar minus shorter bar), then compare the two gaps to pick the larger one.
Execute
Review
The differences are 2 (colored pencils) and 6 (crayons), so the named item matches the wider gap.
Look for a pattern (tool 5): scan both pairs at once and pick the pair whose two bar-tops are spaced farthest apart.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.B.3Draw and interpret scaled picture graphs and bar graphs — Reading paired bars in a double bar graph and comparing within-item differences
A class surveyed how many books and how many magazines the students own, sorted by color. The results are shown in a double bar graph in which each item displays two data sets (red and green) side by side. For both books and magazines, a red bar and a green bar are drawn next to each other.
For each item, compare the difference between the red count and the green count, and determine which item — books or magazines — has the larger difference between the two colors.
The horizontal axis lists books and magazines, and each item shows a pair of bars, one red and one green. The legend identifies the red and green bars.
Show solution
Understand
A double bar graph shows two color counts (red and green) for each of two items: books and magazines. For each item, find the difference between its two bars, then say which item has the larger red-vs-green difference.
- Each item (books, magazines) has a red bar and a green bar side by side
- A legend tells which bar is red and which is green
- Books: red = 7, green = 2; Magazines: red = 6, green = 5
- The difference between the two colors for each item
- Which item has the larger between-color difference
- The difference is found per item by subtracting the shorter bar from the taller bar
- Comparison is made between the two items' differences
Plan
#1 Draw a Diagram · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
The grouped bars are the diagram; for each item we solve a small subtraction subproblem (taller bar minus shorter bar), then compare the two gaps to pick the larger one.
Execute
Review
The differences are 5 (books) and 1 (magazines), so the named item matches the wider gap.
Look for a pattern (tool 5): scan both pairs at once and pick the pair whose two bar-tops are spaced farthest apart.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.B.3Draw and interpret scaled picture graphs and bar graphs — Reading paired bars in a double bar graph and comparing within-item differences
A class surveyed how many cookies and how many cakes the students own, sorted by color. The results are shown in a double bar graph in which each item displays two data sets (purple and green) side by side. For both cookies and cakes, a purple bar and a green bar are drawn next to each other.
For each item, compare the difference between the purple count and the green count, and determine which item — cookies or cakes — has the larger difference between the two colors.
The horizontal axis lists cookies and cakes, and each item shows a pair of bars, one purple and one green. The legend identifies the purple and green bars.
Show solution
Understand
A double bar graph shows two color counts (purple and green) for each of two items: cookies and cakes. For each item, find the difference between its two bars, then say which item has the larger purple-vs-green difference.
- Each item (cookies, cakes) has a purple bar and a green bar side by side
- A legend tells which bar is purple and which is green
- Cookies: purple = 3, green = 8; Cakes: purple = 9, green = 2
- The difference between the two colors for each item
- Which item has the larger between-color difference
- The difference is found per item by subtracting the shorter bar from the taller bar
- Comparison is made between the two items' differences
Plan
#1 Draw a Diagram · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
The grouped bars are the diagram; for each item we solve a small subtraction subproblem (taller bar minus shorter bar), then compare the two gaps to pick the larger one.
Execute
Review
The differences are 5 (cookies) and 7 (cakes), so the named item matches the wider gap.
Look for a pattern (tool 5): scan both pairs at once and pick the pair whose two bar-tops are spaced farthest apart.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.B.3Draw and interpret scaled picture graphs and bar graphs — Reading paired bars in a double bar graph and comparing within-item differences
A class surveyed how many pens and how many markers the students own, sorted by color. The results are shown in a double bar graph in which each item displays two data sets (blue and red) side by side. For both pens and markers, a blue bar and a red bar are drawn next to each other.
For each item, compare the difference between the blue count and the red count, and determine which item — pens or markers — has the larger difference between the two colors.
The horizontal axis lists pens and markers, and each item shows a pair of bars, one blue and one red. The legend identifies the blue and red bars.
Show solution
Understand
A double bar graph shows two color counts (blue and red) for each of two items: pens and markers. For each item, find the difference between its two bars, then say which item has the larger blue-vs-red difference.
- Each item (pens, markers) has a blue bar and a red bar side by side
- A legend tells which bar is blue and which is red
- Pens: blue = 8, red = 5; Markers: blue = 3, red = 9
- The difference between the two colors for each item
- Which item has the larger between-color difference
- The difference is found per item by subtracting the shorter bar from the taller bar
- Comparison is made between the two items' differences
Plan
#1 Draw a Diagram · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
The grouped bars are the diagram; for each item we solve a small subtraction subproblem (taller bar minus shorter bar), then compare the two gaps to pick the larger one.
Execute
Review
The differences are 3 (pens) and 6 (markers), so the named item matches the wider gap.
Look for a pattern (tool 5): scan both pairs at once and pick the pair whose two bar-tops are spaced farthest apart.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.B.3Draw and interpret scaled picture graphs and bar graphs — Reading paired bars in a double bar graph and comparing within-item differences
A class surveyed how many roses and how many tulips the students own, sorted by color. The results are shown in a double bar graph in which each item displays two data sets (red and yellow-green) side by side. For both roses and tulips, a red bar and a yellow-green bar are drawn next to each other.
For each item, compare the difference between the red count and the yellow-green count, and determine which item — roses or tulips — has the larger difference between the two colors.
The horizontal axis lists roses and tulips, and each item shows a pair of bars, one red and one yellow-green. The legend identifies the red and yellow-green bars.
Show solution
Understand
A double bar graph shows two color counts (red and yellow-green) for each of two items: roses and tulips. For each item, find the difference between its two bars, then say which item has the larger red-vs-yellow-green difference.
- Each item (roses, tulips) has a red bar and a yellow-green bar side by side
- A legend tells which bar is red and which is yellow-green
- Roses: red = 5, yellow-green = 5; Tulips: red = 8, yellow-green = 3
- The difference between the two colors for each item
- Which item has the larger between-color difference
- The difference is found per item by subtracting the shorter bar from the taller bar
- Comparison is made between the two items' differences
Plan
#1 Draw a Diagram · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
The grouped bars are the diagram; for each item we solve a small subtraction subproblem (taller bar minus shorter bar), then compare the two gaps to pick the larger one.
Execute
Review
The differences are 0 (roses) and 5 (tulips), so the named item matches the wider gap.
Look for a pattern (tool 5): scan both pairs at once and pick the pair whose two bar-tops are spaced farthest apart.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.B.3Draw and interpret scaled picture graphs and bar graphs — Reading paired bars in a double bar graph and comparing within-item differences
A class surveyed how many apples and how many oranges the students own, sorted by color. The results are shown in a double bar graph in which each item displays two data sets (green and yellow-green) side by side. For both apples and oranges, a green bar and a yellow-green bar are drawn next to each other.
For each item, compare the difference between the green count and the yellow-green count, and determine which item — apples or oranges — has the larger difference between the two colors.
The horizontal axis lists apples and oranges, and each item shows a pair of bars, one green and one yellow-green. The legend identifies the green and yellow-green bars.
Show solution
Understand
A double bar graph shows two color counts (green and yellow-green) for each of two items: apples and oranges. For each item, find the difference between its two bars, then say which item has the larger green-vs-yellow-green difference.
- Each item (apples, oranges) has a green bar and a yellow-green bar side by side
- A legend tells which bar is green and which is yellow-green
- Apples: green = 9, yellow-green = 3; Oranges: green = 4, yellow-green = 8
- The difference between the two colors for each item
- Which item has the larger between-color difference
- The difference is found per item by subtracting the shorter bar from the taller bar
- Comparison is made between the two items' differences
Plan
#1 Draw a Diagram · also uses: #7 Identify Subproblems
The grouped bars are the diagram; for each item we solve a small subtraction subproblem (taller bar minus shorter bar), then compare the two gaps to pick the larger one.
Execute
Review
The differences are 6 (apples) and 4 (oranges), so the named item matches the wider gap.
Look for a pattern (tool 5): scan both pairs at once and pick the pair whose two bar-tops are spaced farthest apart.
Standards · min grade 3
3.MD.B.3Draw and interpret scaled picture graphs and bar graphs — Reading paired bars in a double bar graph and comparing within-item differences