6th Grade Math Textbook, Progress

Interpret Circle Graphs

9-14

A circle graph shows how different parts of a set

of data compare to the whole set. Many circle

graphs display the fraction that corresponds to

each part of the whole.

Shapiro’s Marketing conducted a survey of music

preferences on the basis of store sales of CDs.

The circle graph at the right shows the fraction

of the 200 people surveyed who purchased

each type of music.

To find out how many of the 200 people

chose country music, find 
^15 
of 200.

40


^15 

^201 
^0 
^15 

^201 
^0  40

1

So 40 people chose country music.

Use the circle graph above.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. Together, what part of the people 7. Shapiro’s conducted the same survey
   surveyed chose either pop or last month with 250 people and got the
   country? pop or rock/soul? same fractions. Will the circle graph
   pop, country, or rock/soul? look the same or different? Explain.

Type of Music Fraction Number of

People

Country 


1

5 
^40

Rock/Soul??

Pop??

Gospel??

Other??

Music Preferences

Remember: A circle graph shows parts of a whole.

The parts may be given as fractions or percents.

Pop

1

4

Country

1

5

Gospel

1

10

Rock/Soul

3

10

Other

3

20

8206-2_318-319 10/7/07 11:47 AM Page 318