INTRODUCTION

In our daily lives, we deal with information, data, and activities that need to be organized, recorded, and presented in a clear and simple way. In mathematics, especially in business arithmetic and statistics, it is important to know how to keep records, prepare schedules, and draw charts.

These three things — charts, records, and schedules — help us to arrange data so that we can understand, compare, and make decisions quickly. They are useful in schools, offices, shops, farms, hospitals, banks, and many other places.

MEANING OF RECORD

A record is a written account of information or data for future reference. It is used to keep track of activities, monitor progress, or store facts for easy retrieval.

In mathematics, keeping records helps us to remember quantities, dates, prices, time, marks, or results.

Examples of Records

1. School attendance register


2. Report cards of students


3. Sales records in a shop


4. Workers’ attendance sheet


5. Record of daily expenses


6. Record of rainfall in a region

Importance of Records

1. It helps to keep information for future use.


2. It helps to check progress over time.


3. It helps in decision-making.


4. It helps to avoid loss or forgetting of important information.


5. It helps to know when something increases or decreases.

MEANING OF SCHEDULE

A schedule is a planned arrangement or timetable of events, duties, or activities showing when and how each should take place. A schedule helps to organize time and work properly so that nothing is left undone. In mathematics and business, a schedule can also mean a list of data arranged in a clear and logical order (like in a table).

Examples of Schedules

1. A school timetable showing periods and subjects


2. A worker’s duty roster showing shifts


3. A bus or train timetable showing arrival and departure times


4. A schedule of payment showing how much is paid weekly or monthly


5. A farmer’s planting schedule showing when to plant and harvest crops

Importance of Schedules

1. It helps to plan time wisely.


2. It prevents confusion and waste of time.


3. It ensures that tasks are completed on time.


4. It helps to follow a sequence of work properly.


5. It makes record keeping easier.

Example of a Daily Schedule for a Student

Time	Activity
6:00 am – 7:00 am	Wake up, pray, and prepare for school
7:00 am – 2:00 pm	School hours
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm	Lunch and rest
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm	Homework and reading
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm	Dinner and family time
9:00 pm	Sleep

MEANING OF CHART

A chart is a visual way of presenting data or information using pictures, bars, lines, or shapes. Charts make it easier to see patterns, comparisons, or trends in data.

Charts are part of data representation in mathematics. They help us to convert raw figures (numbers) into a clear visual picture.

Common Types of Charts Include:

1. Bar chart – uses bars (rectangles) to show information.


2. Pie chart – uses circular diagrams (slices) to represent data.


3. Line graph – uses lines to show change over time.


4. Pictogram (Pictograph) – uses pictures or symbols to represent quantities.


5. Histogram – similar to a bar chart but used for continuous data.

TYPES OF CHARTS AND THEIR USES

1. Bar Chart

A bar chart is made up of rectangular bars of equal width but different heights or lengths. The height or length of each bar represents the quantity of each item.

Example: A student recorded the number of fruits sold in a week.

Fruit	Number Sold
Mango	20
Orange	15
Apple	10
Banana	25

(Bar Chart)

Fruit Sales
        
Apple   | ---------- (10)
Orange  | --------------- (15)    
Mango   | -------------------- (20)
Banana  | ------------------------- (25)
        

From the chart, you can easily see that banana was sold the most and apple the least.

2. Pie Chart

A pie chart is a circular chart divided into sectors (slices) showing the proportion of each item to the total.

Example: If a student spends ₦500 daily as follows:

1. Food: ₦200


2. Transport: ₦100


3. Books: ₦50


4. Savings: ₦150

Angles:

Food = 144°, Transport = 72°, Books = 36°, Savings = 108°

(Pie Chart)

              +---------+
          /#####  Food  #####\
       /### 144° #########     \
      |## Savings 108° ##       |
       \## Transport 72° ##   /
          \## Books 36° ##  /
              +---------+

3. Line Graph

A line graph is drawn using points connected by straight lines. It is used to show changes over time — such as temperature, sales, population, or profit.

Example: If the number of books sold in five days is:

Day	Books Sold
Monday	10
Tuesday	12
Wednesday	18
Thursday	16
Friday	20

(Line Graph)

Books Sold
20 |                        *
18 |                    *       *
16 |                *
12 |          *
10 |     *
   +---------------------------------
     Mon  Tue  Wed  Thu  Fri

4. Pictogram (Pictograph)

This uses pictures or symbols to represent data. Each picture stands for a certain number of items.

Example:

Fruit	Number Sold	Symbol
Orange	10	🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊
Mango	15	🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋
Banana	5	🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHARTS, RECORDS, AND SCHEDULES

All three — charts, records, and schedules — are related because they all deal with organizing and presenting information.

1. A record stores the information.


2. A schedule organizes the information in order of time or plan.


3. A chart displays the information visually for easy understanding.

Example:

A teacher keeps a record of students’ attendance (record). He prepares a weekly timetable for their lessons (schedule). Then he draws a chart to show which day had the highest attendance (chart).

IMPORTANCE OF CHARTS, RECORDS, AND SCHEDULES

1. They help us to organize information neatly.


2. They make data easy to understand.


3. They help in planning and decision-making.


4. They are useful for keeping track of progress.


5. They make mathematical work easier to interpret.


6. They are useful in offices, schools, shops, hospitals, and homes.

COMMON MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE

1. Mixing up the meanings of record, chart, and schedule.


2. Drawing charts without labeling correctly.


3. Forgetting to use a scale when drawing graphs.


4. Failing to use the same unit for all data.


5. Making schedules without proper time arrangement.

SUMMARY

A record is a written document of facts or data. A schedule is a plan or timetable showing when events occur. A chart is a diagram that presents data visually.

They help in organizing, analyzing, and understanding data easily. Charts can be bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, or pictographs. They are used in schools, businesses, and everyday life.

CONCLUSION

Charts, records, and schedules are very important tools in mathematics and in real life. They help us to plan, organize, and communicate information in a clear and simple way. Every student should learn how to create and interpret them because they are used in almost every aspect of life — from managing money and time to recording results and planning future activities.