Pictograph: Definition, Uses, Construction, Examples

Pictograph: Have you ever wondered how the invention of writing was started? The interesting fact is that the invention of writing was started using pictures. Humankind used pictures to convey information during the first few centuries. Similarly, pictographs are also based on the same principle, which uses images to represent the data. Each image is used In the pictograph represents the frequency of the particular object in the given data. In this article, we will learn everything about pictographs.

Definition of Pictograph

Pictographs are one of the graphical representations of the data. Pictographs represent the given data graphically by using the images. Each image is used in a pictograph represents the frequency of the particular object in the given data. Pictographs provide information about a given set of data using symbols or images. Pictographs are one of the simplest ways of representing statistical data. Moreover, they are easy to understand. 

Let us understand the concept of pictograph by taking a simple example: Look at the below pictograph and observe how many books all children read together.

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From the above pictograph:

1. Keerthi reads \(9×2=18\) books
2. Preethu reads \(2×2=4\) books
3. Rachana reads \(6×2=12\) books
4. Priya reads \(8×2=16\) books
5. Shwetha reads \(2×2=4\) books
6. Sushma reads \(6×2=12\) books

In total, all together can read \(18+4+12+16+4+12=66\) books.

Thus, from the above pictograph, we can observe the formula used to find the value of the data of each category used in the table.

The value of each category is equal to the number of times the image or symbol is used and the value of each symbol. Let the value of each image or symbol is \(S\) and the number of times the image or symbol is used \(N.\)

Then, the value of the category \(=N×S\)

How to Make a Pictograph?

Pictographs represent a given data graphically using images. The construction of a pictograph follow some simple steps that are listed below:

Step 1: Collect the data

Collecting relevant information from the data that we want to represent is the first step of making a pictograph. Construct or make a table or list the data from the collected information.

Step 2: Select suitable images or symbols

To represent the above data pictorially, select any image or symbol to represent the given data exactly. For example, if the given data represents the number of motorcycles sold, use images or symbols showing the bike or other images relevant to the given data.

Step 3: Assigning a key

Key is the main factor in the representation of the given data using a pictograph. To represent the given data using images or symbols, use the key that denotes some value of the symbol or image. 

Thus, “key” is the numerical value assigned to the image or symbol, which can be written along with the pictograph. If the frequency of the particular value is too high, then use the two or more images with some numerical value as key.

Step 4: Draw the pictograph

For constructing a pictograph, make a table with two columns representing the category and the data with an image or symbol. Each image is used In the pictograph represents the frequency of the particular object in the given data.

If the frequency of the given data is not a whole number, then the symbols or images can be taken as a part, i.e., fractions.

Step 5: Review the pictograph and the data

Check the images or symbols thoroughly that represents the given data exactly in the pictograph drawn. And check the labelling used in the pictograph correctly.

Let us understand the construction of a pictograph by taking the simple example:

Muktha visited a garden in a city. She found five banana trees, four rose trees, six mango trees, six coconut trees, and eight grapes trees. Represent the above data by using the pictograph as shown below:

1. Collecting the given data as follows:

By selecting the suitable images of each tree, Muktha drew the pictograph as shown below:

Uses of Pictograph

Pictographs are one of the graphical representations of the data. Pictographs represent the given data graphically by using the images.

Some of the important use of the pictograph are mentioned below:

1. Pictographs are the simplest way of representing the given data.
2. Pictographs are used to represent the data graphically.
3. Pictographs provide all the information in one place.
4. Pictographs are very easy to read and understand.
5. Pictographs do not require more information to represent; a piece of simple information with frequency is enough to construct a pictograph.
6. Pictographs are very interesting, and the images used in the pictographs attract the viewers and readers easily.
7. We can interpret and will get more information from the pictographs.

Solved Examples – Pictograph

Q.1. During the first eight months of the year, a bus manufacturing company manufactured the following number of buses, which are represented below:

Construct a pictograph by using the data mentioned above. Answer the following questions based on the pictograph drawn.
1. In which month of the year, the company manufactures the minimum number of buses?
2. In which month of the year, the company manufactures the maximum number of buses?
Ans: Given data is

Considering the image of the bus as shown below:

Let us take the symbol or image of each bus shown above numerically equals to \(200\) buses sold.
By using the key, image and the given data can be represented in the pictograph as shown below:

1. From the above pictograph, we can say in the month of January, we have three buses (key) which are least in pictures, and the value of the buses sold in this month is given by \(3×200=600\) buses.
Therefore, in the month of January, the company manufactures the minimum number of buses.

2. From the above pictograph, we can say in July and August, we have nine buses (key) which are the highest in pictures, and the value of the buses sold in these months is given by \(9×200=1800\) buses.
Therefore, in the month of July and August, the company manufactures the maximum number of buses.

Q.2. Observe the below-given pictograph that gives the information about the mode of transport used by the students to come to school.

Answer the following questions based on the above-given pictograph.
1. How many students come to school by car?
2. Which mode of transport is commonly used by the students?
3. Which mode of transport is the least preferred mode of transport by students?
Ans: From the above pictograph, the key given is eachrepresents the three children.
1. From the pictograph, the number of students who come to school by car is shown with four images of.The total number of children is given by \(4×3=12.\) Therefore, there is a total of \(12\) children uses the car as the mode of transport.

2. In the above-given pictograph, the maximum of images is shown at a bus, which gives the most commonly used mode of transport. Therefore, the bus is the most commonly used by children.

3. In the above pictograph, the minimum of images is shown at bicycle, which gives the most rarely used mode of transport. Therefore, the bicycle is the least used by the children.

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Q.3. The pictograph given below shows the number of fruits (bananas and oranges) consumed by the children of three schools (A, B, C) in 2019.

Observe the given pictograph and answer the following questions.
1. What are the total fruits consumed by the children of school C?
2. What are the oranges consumed by three schools together?
Ans: The key of the pictograph shown above is given by

1. The total number of fruits consumed by school \(C\) is the sum of bananas and oranges consumed by school \(C.\)
\(⇒3×50+6×50=150+300=450\)
Hence, the children of school C consumes a total of \(450\) fruits.
2. The total oranges consumed by the children of three schools is given by
\(=(4×50)+(2×50)+(6×50)=200+100+300=600\)
Hence, the children of all three schools consume \(600\) oranges.

Q.4. The below-shown pictograph gives the rainfall in different cities (A, B, C, D, E, F). Find the total rainfall in all cities.(Note:represents 25 cm of rainfall)

Ans: Given oneequal to \(25\;{\rm{cm}}\)
From the above pictograph,
Rainfall in City \(A = 7 \times 25\;{\rm{cm}} = 175\;{\rm{cm}}\)
Rainfall in city \(B = 10 \times 25\;{\rm{cm}} = 250\;{\rm{cm}}\)
Rainfall in city \(C = 6 \times 25\;{\rm{cm}} = 150\;{\rm{cm}}\)
Rainfall in city \(D = 2 \times 25\;{\rm{cm}} = 50\;{\rm{cm}}\)
Rainfall in city \(E = 3 \times 25\;{\rm{cm}} = 75\;{\rm{cm}}\)
Rainfall in city \(F = 1 \times 25\;{\rm{cm}} = 25\,{\rm{cm}}\)

Q.5. Shakuntala noted all toys sold in a day in the tabular form as shown below:

Represent the above information in the pictograph.
Ans: The above information can be represented in the pictograph by taking suitable images of the toys given, and the pictograph for the given data is shown below:

Summary

In this article, we have studied the history of pictographs with definition. Pictographs are the graphical and simplest way of representing the data by using images or symbols. We have studied the steps of construction of the pictograph for any data given.

This article gives the uses of the pictograph and solved examples that help solve the problems and interpret and understand the pictographs easily.

FAQs

Q.1. What is a pictograph?
Ans: Pictographs are one of the graphical representations of the data. Pictographs represent the given data graphically by using the images.

Q.2. How do you make pictographs in math?
Ans: Pictograph can be made by using the steps:
1. Collecting the data
2. Selecting the suitable image or symbol
3. Assigning the key

Q.3. Where is pictograph used?
Ans: To represent the data in the simple and easy to understand, we can use the pictograph, which is shown with the help of images or symbols.

Q.4. What is the example of a pictograph?

Ans: If , then the number of books sold by Keerthiis \(2×9=18\) books.

Q.5. What is key in a pictograph?
Ans: The key in a pictograph represents the numerical value of each image or symbol.