Pictographs (Grade 3)
A pictograph uses pictures or symbols to show data. In Class 3, students learn to read pictographs where each picture can stand for more than one item (for example, one picture = 2 items or 5 items). This builds on the Grade 2 skill of reading simple pictographs.
Pictographs make it easy to compare information at a glance.
What is Pictographs - Class 3 Maths (Data Handling)?
A pictograph is a chart that uses pictures or symbols to represent data. Each picture stands for a fixed number of items, called the key or scale.
Parts of a pictograph:
- Title: Tells what the data is about.
- Categories: Items or groups being compared (listed in rows or columns).
- Pictures/symbols: Represent the data values.
- Key: Tells how many items each picture stands for.
Types and Properties
How to read a pictograph:
- Read the title to understand what the data shows.
- Look at the key to find out what each picture means.
- Count the pictures for each category.
- Multiply the number of pictures by the key value.
- A half picture means half the key value.
Solved Examples
Example 1: Reading a Simple Pictograph
Question: A pictograph shows the number of mangoes sold. Each mango picture = 5 mangoes.
| Monday | 🥭🥭🥭 |
| Tuesday | 🥭🥭🥭🥭 |
| Wednesday | 🥭🥭 |
Key: 🥭 = 5 mangoes
How many mangoes were sold on Tuesday?
Think:
- Tuesday has 4 pictures.
- 4 × 5 = 20 mangoes
Answer: 20 mangoes were sold on Tuesday.
Example 2: Comparing Data
Question: Using the pictograph above, on which day were the fewest mangoes sold?
Think:
- Monday: 3 × 5 = 15
- Tuesday: 4 × 5 = 20
- Wednesday: 2 × 5 = 10
- 10 is the smallest.
Answer: The fewest mangoes were sold on Wednesday.
Example 3: Finding Total from a Pictograph
Question: How many mangoes were sold in all 3 days combined?
Think:
- Total pictures = 3 + 4 + 2 = 9
- Total mangoes = 9 × 5 = 45
Answer: 45 mangoes were sold in total.
Example 4: Using a Half Symbol
Question: In a pictograph, each star = 10 students. Class A has 3 full stars and 1 half star. How many students are in Class A?
Think:
- 3 full stars = 3 × 10 = 30
- 1 half star = 10 ÷ 2 = 5
- Total = 30 + 5 = 35
Answer: Class A has 35 students.
Example 5: Drawing a Pictograph
Question: Ria surveyed her class about favourite fruits. Apple: 8, Mango: 12, Banana: 6. Draw a pictograph with key: 1 picture = 2 fruits.
Think:
- Apple: 8 ÷ 2 = 4 pictures
- Mango: 12 ÷ 2 = 6 pictures
- Banana: 6 ÷ 2 = 3 pictures
| Apple | 🍎🍎🍎🍎 |
| Mango | 🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭🥭 |
| Banana | 🍌🍌🍌 |
Key: Each picture = 2 fruits
Answer: The pictograph is shown above.
Example 6: Finding the Difference
Question: Using Ria's pictograph, how many more students chose Mango than Banana?
Think:
- Mango = 12, Banana = 6
- Difference = 12 − 6 = 6
Answer: 6 more students chose Mango than Banana.
Example 7: Choosing the Right Key
Question: Aman has data: Red = 20, Blue = 30, Green = 10. He wants to draw a pictograph. Suggest a key.
Think:
- All numbers are multiples of 10.
- Key: 1 picture = 10 items works well.
- Red: 2 pictures, Blue: 3 pictures, Green: 1 picture.
Answer: A good key is 1 picture = 10 items.
Example 8: Reading a Pictograph with Key = 4
Question: A pictograph shows books read by students. Key: 1 book symbol = 4 books. Priya has 5 book symbols. How many books did she read?
Think:
- 5 × 4 = 20 books
Answer: Priya read 20 books.
Example 9: Word Problem on Pictograph
Question: Aditi's school recorded cricket runs scored by 4 students using a pictograph. Key: 1 bat = 10 runs. Dev has 6 bats, Kavi has 4 bats. How many more runs did Dev score than Kavi?
Think:
- Dev: 6 × 10 = 60 runs
- Kavi: 4 × 10 = 40 runs
- Difference: 60 − 40 = 20 runs
Answer: Dev scored 20 more runs than Kavi.
Key Points to Remember
- A pictograph uses pictures or symbols to represent data.
- The key tells how many items each picture stands for.
- To find the value, multiply the number of pictures by the key.
- A half picture represents half the key value.
- Pictographs are used to compare data and find totals and differences.
- When drawing a pictograph, choose a key that divides all data values evenly.
- Always include a title and a key in your pictograph.
Practice Problems
- In a pictograph, each flower = 3 flowers. There are 7 flower symbols for roses. How many roses are there?
- A pictograph shows sweets sold. Laddu: 5 symbols, Jalebi: 3 symbols, Barfi: 4 symbols. Key: 1 symbol = 10 sweets. Which sweet was sold the most?
- Using the above data, how many sweets were sold in total?
- Draw a pictograph for: Football: 6, Cricket: 10, Badminton: 4. Use key: 1 picture = 2 students.
- In a pictograph, each car symbol = 5 cars. If Monday shows 4 full symbols and 1 half symbol, how many cars were sold on Monday?
- Kavi's pictograph shows 8 symbols for Class A and 5 symbols for Class B. Key: 1 symbol = 4 students. How many more students are in Class A?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is a pictograph?
A pictograph is a chart that uses pictures or symbols to show data. Each picture represents a fixed number of items, shown by the key.
Q2. What is the key in a pictograph?
The key tells how many items each picture stands for. For example, if the key says 1 star = 5 books, then 3 stars mean 15 books.
Q3. What does a half symbol mean?
A half symbol represents half the key value. If 1 symbol = 10, then a half symbol = 5.
Q4. How do you choose a good key for a pictograph?
Choose a number that divides all the data values evenly. If data values are 10, 20, and 30, a key of 1 picture = 5 or 10 works well.
Q5. How is a pictograph different from a bar graph?
A pictograph uses pictures to show data, while a bar graph uses rectangular bars. Both help compare data, but bar graphs are more precise for large numbers.
Q6. How do you find the total from a pictograph?
Count all the pictures across all categories, then multiply by the key value. Or find each category's value and add them all.
Q7. What are real-life uses of pictographs?
Pictographs are used in newspapers, classrooms, weather reports, and sports statistics to show data in a visual, easy-to-understand way.
Q8. Are pictographs covered in NCERT Class 3?
Yes. Pictographs are part of the Data Handling chapter in NCERT Class 3 Maths. Students read, interpret, and draw pictographs with keys greater than 1.
