1. Reading Data: Tables, Bar Graphs, and Line Graphs

Data visualization displays information in a format that is quick to understand. The GED® tests your ability to extract information from common displays.

Tables:
A table organizes data into rows and columns. Always read the header row and column labels carefully.

Example table:
\[ \begin{array}{c|c|c|c} \text{Month} & \text{Sales} & \text{Profit} & \text{Units Sold} \\ \hline \text{January} & \$12,000 & \$3,200 & 240 \\ \text{February} & \$15,000 & \$4,100 & 300 \\ \text{March} & \$13,500 & \$3,700 & 270 \\ \end{array} \]

From this table, you can quickly see that February had the highest sales (\$15,000) and the highest profit (\$4,100).

Bar Graphs:
Bar graphs compare categories using rectangular bars. The height (or length) of each bar represents the value.

Key reading skills:

• Read the title to understand what is displayed.
• Check the axis labels (x-axis and y-axis).
• Use the scale to determine approximate values.
• Compare bar heights to identify trends.

Line Graphs:
Line graphs show change over time. Each point represents a value at a specific time, and connecting lines show the trend.

Advantages of line graphs:

• Show trends clearly.
• Make it easy to spot increases, decreases, and patterns.
• Can display multiple data series on the same graph.

Example interpretation: If a line graph shows temperature rising from Monday to Wednesday, then dropping Thursday to Friday, you can say temperature "increased early in the week, then decreased late in the week."

Real-world context: A store manager reviews weekly sales data from a table to identify which day sells the most. A nurse reads a patient's temperature graph to monitor fever trends.

Common mistake: misreading the scale. Always check if each grid line represents 1, 10, 100, or another unit.

💡 Tip: Before answering a question, spend 10 seconds identifying the title, labels, and scale. This prevents careless errors.