Forty students scored grades A, B, C, D, E with 12, 10, 8, 6 and 4 students respectively. Reduce the ratio of these numbers to its simplest form and find the angle of each slice of the pie chart.
Hint. The total angle of a circle is 360°, so divide 360 in the ratio of the student numbers.
Why angles, and why 360. In a pie chart the slice for a grade must be proportional to the number of students who scored it. The whole circle is 360°, so the job is to divide 360 in the ratio 12 : 10 : 8 : 6 : 4.
Simplify the ratio first. Divide every term by the HCF, which is 2: 12 : 10 : 8 : 6 : 4 = 6 : 5 : 4 : 3 : 2 Simplifying first keeps the numbers small; it does not change the answer, since both ratios describe the same proportions.
Find one part. 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 = 20 parts, so 360° ÷ 20 = 18° per part
Multiply out.
| Grade | Students | Parts | Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12 | 6 | 6 × 18 = 108° |
| B | 10 | 5 | 5 × 18 = 90° |
| C | 8 | 4 | 4 × 18 = 72° |
| D | 6 | 3 | 3 × 18 = 54° |
| E | 4 | 2 | 2 × 18 = 36° |
Check. 108 + 90 + 72 + 54 + 36 = 360° ✓ — the slices must fill the circle exactly, and this is the check to run every time.
Drawing it. Draw a circle and a radius AB. Measure 108° from AB and draw AC (grade A). From AC measure 90° for grade B, then 72°, then 54°, then 36°, and the last one should close exactly onto AB. Colour and label the slices.
✦ The simplest form is 6 : 5 : 4 : 3 : 2, and the angles are A = 108°, B = 90°, C = 72°, D = 54°, E = 36°.
