Lesson 3 Reading Line Graphs

e often need to show changes over a period of time. For ex-

What You Will Learn W ample, you may wish to show how you grew taller as you
To obtain and use information got older. This kind of information is best shown on a line graph.
about human systems from line A line graph is made up of a grid. The amounts being measured
graphs are plotted on the grid and connected by a line. The amount is
usually shown on the vertical, or Y-axis of the graph. Time is usu-
Reading Strategy ally shown on the horizontal, or X-axis of the graph.

Create a diagram like the one below.

In each oval, list features of a line
Using Line Graphs to Show Trends
graph. Line graphs are useful for showing how an amount changes
over time. How the amount changes is called the trend. If a line
Line on the graph goes up, we say the trend is up, or increasing. If a
Graphs line on the graph goes down, we say the trend is down, or
decreasing. If a line shows little change up or down, we say the
trend is flat.
Use the steps below to read Figure 4-3.
1. Find out what kind of information is shown on the graph.
Look for the title of the graph. It will tell you what the graph is
Terms to Know about. Often the title will also tell you what period of time the
line graph, trend, rate of change graph covers. What is the title of this graph? What period of time
does the graph cover?
Notice the graph’s legend. This explains the meaning of the
three lines shown on the graph. If only one line is shown on a
graph, no legend is needed. What does the legend tell you the red
line on the graph means? What does the dashed blue line repre-
sent? The solid blue line?
2. Study the labels on the graph. The labels tell you what the
numbers on the graph stand for. Look at the numbers on the left
vertical axis of the graph. The number 0 is at the bottom of the
graph. Above it are numbers up to 1,300. What does the label say
these numbers stand for? What do the numbers on the right verti-
cal axis represent? Now look at the numbers on the horizontal axis
of the graph. Next to 0 on the left side is the number 1949. At the
far right is the number 1995. What do these numbers stand for?
3. Read the line graph. Begin reading the graph from the left.
Read across the graph to the right. Notice that there is a symbol
on each line above each year. To find out how much the symbol
stands for, read across to the left and use the vertical scale. For
example, the diamond for the year 1973 is at 200 on the left verti-
cal axis. This tells you that about how many million people died
in China in 1973. About how many million people were born in
China in 1990?

126 L ESSON 3 Reading Line Graphs

 4. Draw conclusions from the graph. Observe that shoots up or down steeply shows that
the lines on the graph. Line graphs are useful change is taking place rapidly. Is the trend of the
because a glance at one can tell you not only the total population of China up or down? Is the
trend, but also the rate of change. The rate of birthrate increasing or decreasing? What was the
change is the speed with which change is taking rate of change in the death rate in China between
place. A line which slopes gently up or down 1983 and 1995? What was the rate of change
shows that change is taking place slowly. A line between 1949 and 1958?

Figure 4-3 Population Growth and Birth and Death Rates in China, 1949–1995
1,300 45.5

Total Population
1,200 42.0
Birth Rate
Death Rate
1,100 38.5

1,000 35.0

Birth and Death Rates (per 1000 of population)

900 31.5
Total Population (millions)

800 28.0

700 24.5

600 21.0

500 17.5

400 14.0

300 10.5

200 7.0

100 3.5

0 0.0
1949
1951
1953
1955
1957
1959
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995

Source: International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis.

Using Your Skills

Reviewing Key Terms
Explain the meaning of each term below.
1. trend Trend is the direction of change shown on a line graph. The trend can be up, down, or flat.
2. rate of change Rate of change is the speed with which change is taking place. Rate of change is indicated by the
slope of the line. Little slope indicates a slow rate of change. Steep slope indicates a rapid rate of change.

LESSON 3 Reading Line Graphs 127

 Using Graphics
Use the graph in Figure 4-3 on page 127 to answer the following questions.
1. In what years did the birthrate in China show the largest decline?
A. 1954–1956 B. 1957–1961 C. 1961–1963 D. 1963–1966
2. What has been the general trend in China’s birthrate since 1963?
A. downward B. upward C. flat
3. What has been the general trend in China’s death rate since 1963?
A. downward B. upward C. flat
4. If the birth and death rates for the 1990s continue, what will happen to
China’s total population?
A. It will rise sharply.
B. It will decline sharply.
C. It will gradually level off.
D. It will rise gradually.
5. Explain the reason for the choice you made in Question 4.
As the birthrate continues to fall, population growth will slow, even if the death rate is level.

Using Graphics
Use the information in the paragraph below to complete the line graph
(Figure 4-4) which has been started for you.
The estimated world population in 1850 was 1.5 billion. In 1930 it was 2 billion.
By 1960 there were 3 billion people in the world. As of 1987 there were 5 billion.
The number reached 6 billion in 2000 and should reach around 8 billion by 2025.

Figure 4-4 Estimated World Population

8

6
Billions of People

0
1850 1900 1950 2000 2025
Year

128 L ESSON 3 Reading Line Graphs