Graphs Practice Questions

Use these Graphs practice questions to review bar graphs, pie charts, coordinate graphs, and line graphs. After answering each question, open the explanation to see how to interpret the graph and find the correct answer.

Graphs Topics Covered

  • Reading bar graphs
  • Comparing values across time periods
  • Finding approximate increases and decreases
  • Reading pie charts
  • Using percentages from a chart
  • Identifying coordinate points
  • Reading line graphs
  • Comparing revenue, costs, and profit

Graphs Practice Questions

Use this bar graph to answer questions 1-3.

Bar graph showing the population of a U.S. city from 1950 to 2000.
1. According to the bar graph, what was the approximate population of the city in 1970?

  1. 832
  2. 1,154
  3. 832,000
  4. 1,054,000
  5. 1,154,000
Show Answer

Answer: E. 1,154,000

The bar graph gives the population of the city in thousands. Find the bar that represents 1970, then use the y-axis to estimate the population.

The height is about 1,154. Since the graph is measured in thousands, the population was about 1,154,000.

2. In what decade did the city experience the greatest population increase?

  1. 1950 to 1960
  2. 1960 to 1970
  3. 1970 to 1980
  4. 1980 to 1990
  5. 1990 to 2000
Show Answer

Answer: D. 1980 to 1990

To find the greatest population increase, compare the heights of adjacent bars.

The biggest increase occurred between 1980 and 1990. During this period, the population went from about 1,095,000 to about 1,366,000.

3. By approximately how much did the population of the city decrease between 1970 and 1980?

  1. 55
  2. 150
  3. 9,000
  4. 60,000
  5. 100,000
Show Answer

Answer: D. 60,000

Estimate the population in 1970 and 1980 from the bar graph.

The population in 1970 was about 1,150,000. The population in 1980 was about 1,090,000.

Subtract to find the decrease:

1,150,000 – 1,090,000 = 60,000

The population decreased by about 60,000.

Use this pie chart to answer questions 4-6.

Pie chart showing a family budget for a year.
4. If the family spent a total of $60,000 this year, about how much of it was spent on food?

  1. $7,800
  2. $9,000
  3. $10,200
  4. $12,600
  5. $13,200
Show Answer

Answer: A. $7,800

The pie chart shows that food takes up 13% of the family’s budget.

Convert 13% to a decimal:

13% = 0.13

Multiply by the total budget:

0.13 x $60,000 = $7,800

The family spent about $7,800 on food.

5. If in a given year the family spent $15,028 on transportation, what was its total budget for the year?

  1. $75,140
  2. $88,400
  3. $90,168
  4. $115,600
  5. $120,224
Show Answer

Answer: B. $88,400

The pie chart shows that transportation takes up 17% of the family budget.

Set up an equation using x for the family’s total budget:

0.17x = 15,028

Divide by 0.17:

x = 88,400

The family’s total budget was $88,400.

6. If in a given year the family spent $4,500 on healthcare, how much did the family spend on housing?

  1. $1,755
  2. $4,500
  3. $15,600
  4. $17,500
  5. $19,500
Show Answer

Answer: E. $19,500

The pie chart shows that healthcare takes up 9% of the family’s budget.

Set up an equation using x for the total budget:

0.09x = 4,500

Divide by 0.09:

x = 50,000

The family’s yearly budget was $50,000.

Housing takes up 39% of the budget, so multiply:

0.39 x $50,000 = $19,500

The family spent $19,500 on housing.

7. Find the coordinates of vertices of the triangle below.

Coordinate graph showing a triangle.
  1. (-3,3), (2,2), and (-1,2)
  2. (-3,3), (2,2), and (2,-1)
  3. (3,3), (3,2), and (2,-1)
  4. (3,-3), (2,2), and (-1,2)
  5. (3,-3), (3,2), and (2,-1)
Show Answer

Answer: B. (-3,3), (2,2), and (2,-1)

Coordinates are written in the form (x, y).

The top point is 3 units to the left of the y-axis and 3 units above the x-axis, so its coordinates are (-3,3).

The other two vertices are (2,2) and (2,-1).

Use the line graph to answer questions 8-10.

Line graph showing the revenue and costs of a small company.
8. During which period did the revenue of the company decline?

  1. 1985 to 1986
  2. 1986 to 1987
  3. 1987 to 1988
  4. 1988 to 1989
  5. 1989 to 1990
Show Answer

Answer: B. 1986 to 1987

To estimate changes in revenue, look at the revenue line. The only place the line goes down is between 1986 and 1987.

Therefore, revenue decreased during this period.

9. Profit can be found by subtracting costs from revenue. During which period did the company make the greatest profit?

  1. 1985 to 1986
  2. 1986 to 1987
  3. 1987 to 1988
  4. 1988 to 1989
  5. 1989 to 1990
Show Answer

Answer: E. 1989 to 1990

Profit is revenue minus costs. On the graph, profit is represented by the vertical distance between the two lines.

This distance appears greatest between 1989 and 1990, so the company made the greatest profit during that period.

10. During what period did the company expand its production the most?

  1. 1985 to 1986
  2. 1986 to 1987
  3. 1987 to 1988
  4. 1988 to 1989
  5. 1989 to 1990
Show Answer

Answer: D. 1988 to 1989

When a company expands production, its operating costs typically increase.

The costs increased the most between 1988 and 1989, so the company expanded its production the most during that period.

How to Use These Graphs Practice Questions

Start by studying the graph carefully before answering the question. Pay attention to the title, labels, units, scale, and legend. These details explain what the graph is measuring.

For extra review, focus on the graph types that give you the most trouble. Bar graphs often require comparing values, pie charts require using percentages, coordinate graphs require reading ordered pairs, and line graphs often require identifying increases, decreases, and differences between lines.

 

Last Updated: July 6, 2026