NCERT Class 5 Mathematics Math-Magic: Chapter 12 — Smart Charts
This chapter, 'Smart Charts' from NCERT's Class 5 Mathematics Math-Magic textbook, introduces students to the concept of data representation using tally marks. Yamini's project on 'Animals and Birds' demonstrates how tally marks are used to count preferences for pet animals. Students learn to interpret tally marks and complete tables, calculating the total number of children surveyed and identifying the most favourite pet. The chapter also includes a practical activity where Sumita uses tally marks to count vehicles on the road, highlighting the efficiency of this method for quick data collection. This chapter helps build foundational skills in data handling and analysis, crucial for understanding statistics and making informed observations.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 5 |
| Subject | Mathematics |
| Book | Math-Magic |
| Chapter | Chapter 12 — Smart Charts |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 1 minute |
| Word count | 188 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the concept of tally marks for counting.
- Interpret tally marks to determine the frequency of items.
- Create tally charts based on given data.
- Analyze data presented in tally charts to answer questions.
- Identify the most frequent item in a dataset.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tally Marks | A method of counting by making a vertical stroke for each item, with four strokes crossed by a fifth stroke. |
| Pet Animal | An animal kept for companionship or pleasure. |
| Favourite | Preferred above all others. |
| Vehicle | A thing used for transporting people or goods, especially on land, such as a car, truck, or cart. |
| Data | Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. |
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Practice questions
- If a tally mark shows ||||, how many items does it represent? Answer: 5 items.
- In Yamini's project, if 10 children said dogs were their favourite, how would you represent this using tally marks? Answer: |||| ||||
- Sumita counted vehicles. If she counted 7 cars, how many tally marks would she make? Answer: |||| |
- Which is the most favourite pet animal if 'Cats' has 24 tally marks, 'Dogs' has 15, and 'Rabbits' has 12? Answer: Cats.
Frequently asked questions
What are tally marks used for in mathematics?
Tally marks are used for counting and recording data quickly and efficiently, especially when dealing with large numbers or frequent occurrences.
How do you represent 5 using tally marks?
Five is represented by four vertical lines crossed by a fifth diagonal line: ||||.
What is the purpose of Yamini's project in the chapter?
Yamini's project demonstrates how to collect data about preferences (favourite pet animals) and represent it using tally marks.
How does Sumita use tally marks?
Sumita uses tally marks to count different types of vehicles passing by on the road, helping her to quickly tally them.
Why is it easier to count with tally marks than just numbers sometimes?
Tally marks provide a visual way to group counts in fives, making it easier to see totals at a glance and less prone to counting errors.
What does it mean to find the 'most favourite' pet animal?
It means identifying the animal that received the highest number of votes or preferences, as shown by the longest tally mark count.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 5 Mathematics — Math-Magic — Chapter 12 — Smart Charts. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.