CHAPTER 17

DATA INTERPRETATION
Data interpretation often requires you to gather information from graphs and
tables. You will use these data to calculate such values as mean, median,
mode, and percentile. SAT problems frequently ask you to add, multiply, and
compare these values. Begin with the mathematics review and then complete
and correct the practice problems. There are 2 Solved SAT Problems and
24 Practice SAT Questions with answer explanations.
Bar Graph—data represented by rectangles. Bar graphs can be used to com-
pare two different datasets.
Example:
The bar graphs below show the land area, in square miles, for six different
states. Which of these states has the largest land area?

State Land Area

90,000
80,000
Square Miles

70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
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States

State Land Area

Arkansas

Florida

Pennsylvania
States

Utah
Iowa

Washington

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000

Square Miles

Both bar graphs show the same information. Utah has the longest graph, so
it has the largest land area.

224

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CHAPTER 17 / DATA INTERPRETATION 225

Example:
The side-by-side bar graphs below show the population in six different states.
Which state has greatest increase in population from 1990 to 2000?

State Population
18,000,000
16,000,000

Population
14,000,000
12,000,000
10,000,000 1990
8,000,000 2000
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
0

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State

State Population

Arkansas
Florida
Pennsylvania 1990
State

Utah 2000

Iowa
Washington
0 5,000,000 10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000

Population

Notice that both graphs display the same information.

Inspection of the graph reveals that Florida has the greatest increase in
population.
226 CONQUERING SAT MATH

Pie Chart—a partitioned circle that displays the size of related pieces of in-
formation. Pie charts are used to display the relative size of parts.

Example:
The pie chart below shows the percentage of land in Rhode Island split up
among the different counties. If Rhode Island has a total of 1,045 square
miles of land, how many square miles does Kent County have?

County Area in Square Miles

2%
16%

32%
Bristol County
Kent County
10% Newport County
Providence County
Washington County

40%

Multiply the total land area by the percent in Kent County. 1,045 × 0.16 =
167.2 miles2.

Line Graph—a graph that shows how data vary depending on one another.
The numbers along a side of the line graph are called the scale.

Example:
The line graph below shows the number of home runs for Barry Bonds from
1993–2003. What was his percent decrease in home runs from 2001 to 2002?
Divide the decrease in home runs by the number of home runs in 2001.

Home Runs
80
Number of Home Runs

73
70
60
50 46 49 46
42 40 45
40 37 Home Runs
37 34
30 33
20
10
0
1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Year

73 − 46 27
Percent Decrease = = ≈ 0.37 = 37%
73 73
CHAPTER 17 / DATA INTERPRETATION 227

Scatter Plot—shows the relationship between two numeric variables. If the

data have a general move up and to the right, then the data have a positive
correlation—direct Variation. If the data move down and to the right then,
the data have a negative correlation—Inverse Variation.

Example:
The scatterplot below displays the height against weight of several different
males. Do the data show a negative correlation, positive correlation, or neither?

Height v. Weight

250
Weight (pounds)

200

150
Weight
100

50

0
66 68 70 72 74 76
Height (inches)

The graph moves slightly up and to the right, showing a slight positive
correlation.
228 CONQUERING SAT MATH

Table—displays data in numerical form.

Example:
The data in the table below shows the population of a certain county based
on age. What percent of the population comes from the 25 to 34 age group?

Age Population
Under 5 years 3,960

5 to 9 years 4,334

10 to 14 years 3,877

15 to 19 years 4,393
20 to 24 years 4,314

25 to 34 years 7,912

35 to 44 years 10,855
45 to 54 years 10,519
55 to 59 years 3,625

60 to 64 years 3,242
65 to 74 years 4,848

75 to 84 years 2,899
85 years and over 1,005
Total Population 65,783

Divide the population of the 25 to 34 age group by the total population.

7, 912
≈ 0.12 = 12%
65, 783
CHAPTER 17 / DATA INTERPRETATION 229

Pictograph—uses pictures to represent quantities of an item.

Example:
Using the graph below, how many more houses were built in 1999 than in
2001?

Total Number of Houses Constructed in United States

=250,000 Houses

1999

2000

2001

There are 7 pictures for 1999 and 4 pictures for 2001, a difference of 3.
There are 3 × 250,000 = 750,000 more homes built in 1999 than in 2001.

Practice Questions

1. The bar graph below shows the land area, in square miles, for six different
states. Which of these states has land area greater than 60,000 square
miles?

State Land Area

90,000
80,000
Square Miles

70,000
60,000
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
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States
230 CONQUERING SAT MATH

2. The pie chart below shows the percent of land in Rhode Island in the
different counties. If Rhode Island has a total of 1,045 square miles of
land, how many square miles are in Bristol County and Newport County
combined?

County Area in Square Miles

2%
16%

32%
Bristol County
Kent County
10% Newport County
Providence County
Washington County

40%

3. The line graph below shows the number of home runs Barry Bonds hit
from 1993–2003. In what year(s) did Barry Bonds hit 46 home runs?

Home Runs
80
Number of Home Runs

73
70
60
50 46 46
42 49 45
40 37 37 Home Runs
40 34
30 33
20
10
0
1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Year
CHAPTER 17 / DATA INTERPRETATION 231

4. The data below show the population of a certain county according to age.
What percent of the population comes from the 45 to 54 age group?

Age Population
Under 5 years 3,960

5 to 9 years 4,334

10 to 14 years 3,877
15 to 19 years 4,393

20 to 24 years 4,314

25 to 34 years 7,912

35 to 44 years 10,855
45 to 54 years 10,519

55 to 59 years 3,625

60 to 64 years 3,242

65 to 74 years 4,848
75 to 84 years 2,899

85 years and over 1,005

Total Population 65,783

Practice Answers

1. Washington and Utah

2. 125.4 square miles
3. 1993 and 2002
4. 16%
232 CONQUERING SAT MATH

SOLVED SAT PROBLEMS

1. In what percent of the months does Portland, Oregon, have fewer

rainy days than Portland, Maine?

Number of Rainy Days

20

15
Portland, Oregon
Days

10
Portland, Maine
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Month

Answer: 33.3

Portland, Oregon, has fewer rainy days in June, July, August, and
September. The percent of the months Portland, Oregon, has fewer
rainy days than Portland, Maine, is
4 1
= = 33.3.
12 3
1 1
The exact answer is 33 , but you can’t grid this in because 33 =
3 3
33,333... . Use 33.3.
CHAPTER 17 / DATA INTERPRETATION 233

2. Which of the following choices is the best estimator for the slope
of the line that best fits the data?

A. 1
B. −1
C. 2
D. −2
E. 3
Answer: B
Draw an estimate of the best-fitting line. The slope is negative, so
eliminate choices A, C, and E.
Use approximations for the x-intercept and the y-intercept.
x intercept ≈ 5.5 (5.5,0)
y intercept ≈ 5.5 (0,5.5)
5.5 − 0 5.5
m= = = −1
0 − 5.5 5.5

0 − 5 −5
m= = = −1.
5−0 5