Time series Worked Solutions — GCSE Maths

Fully worked, step-by-step solutions to GCSE Time series questions. See exactly how to solve problems on reading a line graph, time series, reading a time series, totals.

reading a line graphtime seriesreading a time seriestotalsrangedifference
GCSE Foundation70 questionsStep-by-step solutions
Question 1
1 markeasy
The line graph shows the number of umbrellas a shop sold in each quarter of 2022 and 2023. The readings are Q1 2022 = 42, Q2 2022 = 30, Q3 2022 = 50, Q4 2022 = 38, Q1 2023 = 56, Q2 2023 = 40, Q3 2023 = 60, Q4 2023 = 44. Write down the number of umbrellas sold in Q3 2022.

Worked solution

  1. Find the time on the horizontal axis

    time=Q3 2022\text{time} = \text{Q3 2022}

    The times run along the bottom of the graph in order. Find Q3 2022 on that axis before reading anything off.

  2. Go straight up to the plotted point

    Q3 2022→plotted point\text{Q3 2022} \rightarrow \text{plotted point}

    Move up from Q3 2022 until you meet the point on the line. That point is the reading for that time.

  3. Read across to the vertical scale and state the reading

    5050

    Going across from that point to the vertical scale gives 5050, so umbrellas sold in Q3 2022 was 5050.

Answer
50umbrellas sold50 \text{umbrellas sold}
Question 2
1 markeasy
The line graph shows the number of ice creams a kiosk sold in each quarter of 2022 and 2023. The readings are Q1 2022 = 32, Q2 2022 = 22, Q3 2022 = 42, Q4 2022 = 24, Q1 2023 = 34, Q2 2023 = 24, Q3 2023 = 52, Q4 2023 = 34. Write down the number of ice creams sold in Q2 2023.

Worked solution

  1. Find the time on the horizontal axis

    time=Q2 2023\text{time} = \text{Q2 2023}

    The times run along the bottom of the graph in order. Find Q2 2023 on that axis before reading anything off.

  2. Go straight up to the plotted point

    Q2 2023→plotted point\text{Q2 2023} \rightarrow \text{plotted point}

    Move up from Q2 2023 until you meet the point on the line. That point is the reading for that time.

  3. Read across to the vertical scale and state the reading

    2424

    Going across from that point to the vertical scale gives 2424, so ice creams sold in Q2 2023 was 2424.

Answer
24ice creams sold24 \text{ice creams sold}
Question 3
1 markeasy
The line graph shows the number of gym memberships a leisure centre sold in each month from January to June. The readings are January = 24, February = 31, March = 29, April = 38, May = 42, June = 35. Write down the number of gym memberships sold in April.

Worked solution

  1. Find the time on the horizontal axis

    time=April\text{time} = \text{April}

    The times run along the bottom of the graph in order. Find April on that axis before reading anything off.

  2. Go straight up to the plotted point

    April→plotted point\text{April} \rightarrow \text{plotted point}

    Move up from April until you meet the point on the line. That point is the reading for that time.

  3. Read across to the vertical scale and state the reading

    3838

    Going across from that point to the vertical scale gives 3838, so gym memberships sold in April was 3838.

Answer
38gym memberships sold38 \text{gym memberships sold}
Question 4
1 markeasy
The line graph shows the number of bicycles hired from a hire shop in each year from 2018 to 2023. The readings are 2018 = 18, 2019 = 22, 2020 = 21, 2021 = 27, 2022 = 30, 2023 = 34. Write down the number of bicycles hired in 2021.

Worked solution

  1. Find the time on the horizontal axis

    time=2021\text{time} = \text{2021}

    The times run along the bottom of the graph in order. Find 2021 on that axis before reading anything off.

  2. Go straight up to the plotted point

    2021→plotted point\text{2021} \rightarrow \text{plotted point}

    Move up from 2021 until you meet the point on the line. That point is the reading for that time.

  3. Read across to the vertical scale and state the reading

    2727

    Going across from that point to the vertical scale gives 2727, so bicycles hired in 2021 was 2727.

Answer
27bicycles hired27 \text{bicycles hired}
Question 5
2 markseasy
The line graph shows the number of parcels delivered by a courier in each quarter of 2022 and 2023. The readings are Q1 2022 = 60, Q2 2022 = 46, Q3 2022 = 38, Q4 2022 = 56, Q1 2023 = 69, Q2 2023 = 51, Q3 2023 = 39, Q4 2023 = 61. Work out the total number of parcels delivered in 2022.

Worked solution

  1. Read the four quarterly figures for that year

    60,46,38,5660, 46, 38, 56

    The four points above 2022 give the readings 60,46,38,5660, 46, 38, 56.

  2. Write the yearly total as an addition

    total=60+46+38+56\text{total} = 60 + 46 + 38 + 56

    A yearly total is simply the four quarterly figures added together.

  3. Add the numbers up

    60+46+38+56=20060 + 46 + 38 + 56 = 200

    Adding them in order gives 60→106→144→20060 \rightarrow 106 \rightarrow 144 \rightarrow 200, so parcels delivered in 2022 came to 200200 altogether.

Answer
200parcels delivered200 \text{parcels delivered}

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