Bar Graph:

A bar graph is a pictorial representation of numerical data in the form of rectangles (or bars) of
equal width and varying heights.

These rectangles are drawn either vertically or horizontally, keeping equal space between them.
The height (of length) of a rectangle depends upon the number it represents.

How to draw a Bar Graph?

Suppose some numerical data is given to us, and we have to represent it by a bar graph on a
graph paper.

We can draw the graph by following the steps given below.

Step 1: On a graph paper, draw a horizontal line OX and a vertical line OY. These lines are
called the x-axis and the y-axis respectively.

Step 2: Mark points at equal intervals along the x-axis. Below these points write the names of
the data items whose values are to be plotted.

Step 3: Choose a suitable scale. On the scale determine the heights of the bars for the given
numerical values.

Step 4: Mark off these heights parallel to the y-axis from the points taken in Step 2.

Step 5: On the x-axis, draw bars of equal width for the heights marked in Step 4. The bars
should be centered on the points marked on the x-axis. These bars represent the given
numerical data.

Now let us look at some examples showing how bar graphs are drawn.

Exapmle1: The marks obtained by Kunal in his annual examination are shown below. Draw a
bar graph to represent the above data.

Subjects Hindi English Mathematics Science Social studies

Marks
63 75 90 72 58
obtained

Solution: We can draw the bar graph by following these steps:

Step 1: On a graph paper, draw a horizontal line OX and a vertical line OY. These lines are
called the x-axis and the y-axis respectively.

Step 2: Along OX, write the names of the subjects at points taken at uniform gaps.

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 Step 3: Choose the scale: 1 small division = 1 mark.

Step 4: Then, the heights of the various bars are:

Hindi = 63 small divisions, English = 75 small divisions, mathematics = 90 small divisions,

science = 72 small divisions and social studies = 58 small divisions.

Step 5: On the x-axis, draw bars of equal width for the heights marked in Step 4 at the points
marked in Step 2.

The complete bar graph is shown below.

Example 2: The number of cycles produced in a factory during five consecutive weeks is given
below:

Weeks First Second Third Fourth Fifth

Number of cycles
800 1300 1060 920 1440
produced
Draw a bar graph representing the above information.

Solution: We can draw the bar graph by following these steps:

Step 1: On a graph paper, draw a horizontal line OX and a vertical line OY. These lines are
called the x-axis and the y-axis respectively.

Step 2: Along OX, mark the weeks at points taken at equal gaps.

Step 3: Choose the scale: 1 small division = 20 cycles.

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 Step 4: The heights of the bars are:

Production in the 1st week = (1/20 × 800) = 40 small divisions

Production in the 2nd week = (1/20 × 1300) = 65 small divisions

Production in the 3rd week = (1/20 × 1060) = 53 small divisions

Production in the 4th week = (1/20 × 920) = 46 small divisions

Production in the 5th week = (1/20 × 1440) = 72 small divisions

Step 5: Draw bars of equal width and of heights calculated in Step at the points marked in Step
2.

The complete bar graph is shown below.

Example 3: The following table shows the export earnings of India (in thousand crore rupees)
during five consecutive years:

Year 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06

Export (in
thousand crore 130 142 160 204 224
rupees)

Draw a bar graph representing the above data.

Solution: We can draw the bar graph by following these steps:

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 Step 1: On a graph paper, draw a horizontal line OX and a vertical line OY. These lines are
called the x-axis and the y-axis respectively.

Step 2: Along OX, mark the years at points taken at equal gaps.

Step 3: Choose the scale: 1 small division = 2 thousand crore rupees.

Step 4: The heights of the bars are:

Export in 2001-2002 = (1/2 × 130) = 65 small divisions

Export in 2002-2003 = (1/2 × 142) = 71 small divisions

Export in 2003-2004 = (1/2 × 160) = 80 small divisions

Export in 2004-2005 = (1/2 × 204) = 102 small divisions

Export in 2005-2006 = (1/2 × 224) = 112 small divisions

Step 5: At the points marked in Step 2, draw bars of equal width and of heights calculated in
Step 4.

The complete bar graph is shown below.

Reading of Bar Graphs: From a bar graph, we can draw certain conclusions. This is known as
reading or interpretation of the bar graph.

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 Example 4: Given below is a graph showing the number of electric bulbs sold in a shop during
a week.

Read the bar graph carefully and answer the questions given below:

(i) On which day of the week was the sale minimum?

(ii) On which day of the week was the sale maximum?
(iii) What was the total sale during the week?
(iv) What is the ratio between the minimum sale and the maximum sale?

Solution:

(i) It is clear from the bar graph that the bar of minimum height corresponds to the scale
on Friday. So, the sale was minimum on Friday.
(ii) From the bar graph we find that the bar of the maximum height corresponds to the
sale on Monday. So, the sale was maximum on Monday.
(iii) The total sale during the week = (225 + 100 + 150 + 200 + 75 + 100) bulbs = 850
bulbs
(iv) The minimum sale on a day during the week = 75 bulbs.
The maximum sale on a day during the week = 225 bulbs.
minimum sale: maximum sale = 75: 225 = 1: 3

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 Example 5: Read the bar graph given below.

Read the bar graph carefully and answer the questions given below:

(i) What information is given by the bar graph?

(ii) In which year was the production maximum?
(iii) After which year was there a sudden fall in the production?
(iv) Find the ratio between the maximum production and the minimum production during
the given period.

Solution:

(i) The given bar graph shows the annual production (in million tons) of food grains in
an Indian state during the period from 2000 to 2004.
(ii) It is clear that the bar of the maximum height corresponds to the year 2002. So, the
production was maximum in that year.
(iii) From the bar graph, we find that there was a sudden fall in the production after the
year 2002.
(iv) The maximum production in a year during period of 5 years = 100 million tons.
The minimum production in a year during period of 5 years = 40 million tons.
Maximum production: minimum production = 100: 40 = 5: 2

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