What is a picture graph?

A picture graph is a visual method of displaying information that uses images or symbols to represent data. It includes a key or scale that indicates the value of each picture.

One benefit of a picture graph is that it makes it easier for people to understand information. Data presented verbally is usually clarified when a picture graph is utilized.

Picture graphs, however, often do not display data as accurately as other types of graphs. For example, in a picture graph illustrating the number of cars a dealership sells each month, an image of one car represents 10 cars sold. If the dealership sells 12 cars, the picture graph shows an image of one car along with a small portion of another car. This makes it difficult for the person viewing the graph to know exactly how many cars the dealership sold.