In a bar graph each bar represents a number.
The following bar graph shows the number of seconds that different rides last at the fair. We can tell how long each ride lasts by matching the bar for that ride to the number it lines up with on the left.
The spinning cups are the shortest ride. They last only $120$ seconds. The Ferris wheel is the longest ride. It lasts $240$ seconds.
Sometimes to answer questions about bar graphs we will need to look at several of the bars. Let's break this next question into smaller steps.
Which rides last longer than the spinning cups but not as long as the roller coaster?
Here are the steps.
Now we know we are looking for rides that last between $120$ and $210$ seconds. We are ready to answer the original question:

## Understanding bar graphs

The following bar graph shows the prizes given away one day at the Ring Toss game at the fair.
The number of rubber ducks that were given away is equal to which other two categories combined?
This is another question that we can break into smaller steps.
Sometimes we will need to look at all the bars to answer a question.

## Combining bar graphs with other information

We can also combine the information from a bar graph with other information to answer a question.
The following graph shows the number of different foods that were sold one afternoon at the fair's Snack Shack.
The cost of funnel cake is $\6$ and the cost of chili fries is $\8$.
In this question we need to combine information from the bar graph about the number of foods sold with the information about the cost of those foods.
How much more was spent on funnel cakes than on chili fries?
Let's break this down into several steps.
To figure out how much was spent on each food we need to multiply the number of the food that was sold by the cost for that food.
Now we have the information we need to answer the original question:
Let's try another question about this graph. We will still need to take multiple steps, but this time the steps haven't been broken down for us.

## Comparing two bar graphs

Hui and Theo went to the fair. They each kept track of how much time they spent waiting in line for three different rides. When they got home they each made their own bar graph to show their waiting times.