2. Reading Tables, Bar Graphs, and Line Graphs

Most GED® data questions give you a chart and ask you to pull or compare values.

• A table lists exact numbers in rows and columns — read across and down to find a cell.
• A bar graph compares amounts; taller bars mean larger values.
• A line graph shows change over time; a rising line means an increase.

Worked example: a store's sales were $400 (Mon), $600 (Tue), $500 (Wed), $900 (Thu).

Total for the four days: \(400 + 600 + 500 + 900 = 2400\) dollars.

Change from Wednesday to Thursday: \(900 - 500 = 400\) dollars — the biggest day-to-day jump.

Always read the title, the axis labels, and the units first. A common trap is missing that an axis counts by 2s, 5s, or hundreds rather than by 1s.