Chapter 15 of Class 5 Maths Mela, Data Through Pictures, is the book’s final chapter, teaching pictographs and bar charts as ways to represent and interpret data.
Key Concepts
Pictograph: a chart using repeated pictures/symbols to represent data, where each symbol stands for a fixed value.
Reading a pictograph: Total quantity = Number of symbols × Value per symbol.
Bar charts: an alternative way to display the same data using bars of different heights or lengths.
Quick Recap
- If each symbol on a pictograph equals 5 units and a row shows 4 symbols, the total for that row is 20 (4 × 5).
- Collecting a small real data set (favourite fruits, pets) is the best way to practise drawing both chart types.
Common Mistake to Avoid
Forgetting to check the symbol’s value before reading a pictograph — counting symbols alone gives the wrong total if each symbol represents more than 1 unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does each symbol in a pictograph represent?
A fixed value stated in the pictograph’s key — always check this value before calculating any total.
When would a bar chart be easier to read than a pictograph?
When values don’t divide evenly into whole symbols, or when comparing many categories at once, a bar chart’s height is often quicker to compare at a glance.
Full walkthrough: Chapter 15 Solutions · Extra Questions.

