CBSE • Class 8Mathematics • Chapter 4

Data HandlingNCERT Solutions, AI Tutor & Practice

Organising data into frequency distributions and class intervals, drawing histograms and pie charts, and the basics of theoretical probability.

Aligned to the latest NCERT 2024-25 edition • 2 exercises covered • Free plan, no credit card

What you will learn

  • Construct grouped frequency distributions and histograms
  • Read and draw pie charts
  • Apply the classical definition of probability to simple events

Key concepts in this chapter

Frequency distributionClass intervalHistogramPie chartProbability

Frequently asked NCERT questions in this chapter

  1. Construct a histogram for the given grouped frequency distribution.
  2. A pie chart shows expenses of a family. If food = 90°, what fraction of total expenses is on food?
  3. A bag has 4 red and 6 blue balls. Find the probability of drawing a blue ball.

Step-by-step NCERT solutions

12 solved questions • Each solution includes a Socratic hint, full working and a common-mistake callout • Last reviewed 2026-09-03

Q1 • 3 marks

The marks obtained by 20 students in a test are grouped in class intervals 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 and 40-50 with frequencies 2, 5, 7, 4 and 2 respectively. Which class interval has the highest frequency and what is the range of marks?
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Which group has the largest number of students, and what does 'range' mean in terms of highest and lowest possible values?
Step-by-step solution

Arrange the data in a frequency table:

| Class Interval | Frequency | |---|---| | 0-10 | 2 | | 10-20 | 5 | | 20-30 | 7 | | 30-40 | 4 | | 40-50 | 2 |

Highest frequency: The class interval 20-3020\text{-}30 has the highest frequency, which is 77.

Range of marks: The data spans from the lower limit of the first class to the upper limit of the last class. Range=500=50\text{Range} = 50 - 0 = 50

Total students =2+5+7+4+2=20= 2+5+7+4+2 = 20 (check).

Common mistake:
Students often confuse frequency with the class interval value, or compute range as (last frequency − first frequency) instead of using the class limits.
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Q2 • 3 marks

A bag contains 5 red balls, 3 green balls and 2 blue balls. If one ball is drawn at random, find the probability that it is (a) red, (b) not blue, (c) green or red.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
How many total outcomes are there, and how many of them are favourable for each case?
Step-by-step solution

Total number of balls =5+3+2=10= 5 + 3 + 2 = 10.

(a) P(red): P(red)=red ballstotal=510=12P(\text{red}) = \frac{\text{red balls}}{\text{total}} = \frac{5}{10} = \frac{1}{2}

(b) P(not blue): Balls that are not blue =5+3=8= 5 + 3 = 8. P(not blue)=810=45P(\text{not blue}) = \frac{8}{10} = \frac{4}{5}

(c) P(green or red): Favourable =3+5=8= 3 + 5 = 8. P(green or red)=810=45P(\text{green or red}) = \frac{8}{10} = \frac{4}{5}

Common mistake:
Forgetting to add all balls for the total, or adding probabilities incorrectly when they should count combined favourable outcomes.
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Q3 • 3 marks

A die is thrown once. Find the probability of getting (a) an even number, (b) a number greater than 4, (c) a prime number.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
List all the equally likely outcomes of a die, then identify which ones satisfy each condition.
Step-by-step solution

A die has outcomes {1,2,3,4,5,6}\{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6\}, so total outcomes =6= 6.

(a) Even number: favourable outcomes {2,4,6}\{2, 4, 6\}, count =3= 3. P(even)=36=12P(\text{even}) = \frac{3}{6} = \frac{1}{2}

(b) Number greater than 4: favourable outcomes {5,6}\{5, 6\}, count =2= 2. P(>4)=26=13P(>4) = \frac{2}{6} = \frac{1}{3}

(c) Prime number: primes are {2,3,5}\{2, 3, 5\}, count =3= 3. P(prime)=36=12P(\text{prime}) = \frac{3}{6} = \frac{1}{2}

Common mistake:
Treating 1 as a prime number, or including 4 in 'greater than 4' by misreading it as 'greater than or equal to 4'.
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Q4 • 4 marks

The monthly expenditure of a family on different items is given in percentages: Food 40%, Rent 25%, Education 15%, Savings 10%, Others 10%. Represent this data on a pie chart by finding the central angle for each item.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
What fraction of a full circle (360°) does each percentage represent?
Step-by-step solution

The central angle for each item =percentage100×360= \dfrac{\text{percentage}}{100} \times 360^\circ.

| Item | Percentage | Central Angle | |---|---|---| | Food | 40% | 40100×360=144\frac{40}{100}\times 360^\circ = 144^\circ | | Rent | 25% | 25100×360=90\frac{25}{100}\times 360^\circ = 90^\circ | | Education | 15% | 15100×360=54\frac{15}{100}\times 360^\circ = 54^\circ | | Savings | 10% | 10100×360=36\frac{10}{100}\times 360^\circ = 36^\circ | | Others | 10% | 10100×360=36\frac{10}{100}\times 360^\circ = 36^\circ |

Check: 144+90+54+36+36=360144^\circ + 90^\circ + 54^\circ + 36^\circ + 36^\circ = 360^\circ. ✓

Draw a circle and mark sectors with these angles using a protractor.

Common mistake:
Multiplying the percentage by 100 instead of by 360°/100, or forgetting to verify that all angles add up to 360°.
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Q5 • 3 marks

In a pie chart, the sector representing 'Sports' has a central angle of 72°. If the total number of students surveyed is 200, how many students chose Sports?
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
What fraction of the whole circle is 72°, and how does that fraction apply to the total number of students?
Step-by-step solution

The fraction of the circle for Sports is: 72360=15\frac{72^\circ}{360^\circ} = \frac{1}{5}

Number of students who chose Sports: =72360×200=15×200=40= \frac{72}{360} \times 200 = \frac{1}{5} \times 200 = 40

So 40 students chose Sports.

Common mistake:
Dividing 72 by 200 instead of using the ratio 72/360, or forgetting that the full angle is 360°.
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Q6 • 4 marks

The following data shows the number of hours 30 students spend on homework daily: 1, 2, 2, 3, 1, 4, 2, 3, 3, 1, 2, 4, 5, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. Prepare a frequency distribution table.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Can you use tally marks to count how many times each value appears?
Step-by-step solution

Count the occurrences of each value using tally marks:

| Hours | Tally | Frequency | |---|---|---| | 1 | |||| | | 6 | | 2 | |||| |||| | 10 | | 3 | |||| || | 8 | | 4 | |||| | 4 | | 5 | || | 2 |

Check total: 6+10+8+4+2=306 + 10 + 8 + 4 + 2 = 30 students. ✓

The most common value is 2 hours (frequency 10).

Common mistake:
Miscounting the tally marks or losing track while counting, leading to a total that does not equal 30.
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Q7 • 4 marks

Two coins are tossed together. List all possible outcomes and find the probability of getting (a) two heads, (b) exactly one head, (c) at least one tail.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
How can you systematically write down every combination of the two coins?
Step-by-step solution

When two coins are tossed, the sample space is: {HH,HT,TH,TT}\{HH, HT, TH, TT\} Total outcomes =4= 4.

(a) Two heads: favourable {HH}\{HH\}, count =1= 1. P(two heads)=14P(\text{two heads}) = \frac{1}{4}

(b) Exactly one head: favourable {HT,TH}\{HT, TH\}, count =2= 2. P(exactly one head)=24=12P(\text{exactly one head}) = \frac{2}{4} = \frac{1}{2}

(c) At least one tail: favourable {HT,TH,TT}\{HT, TH, TT\}, count =3= 3. P(at least one tail)=34P(\text{at least one tail}) = \frac{3}{4}

Common mistake:
Writing only 3 outcomes by treating HT and TH as the same, which gives wrong probabilities.
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Q8 • 3 marks

A histogram is drawn for the class intervals 100-150, 150-200, 200-250, 250-300 with frequencies 4, 9, 6, 3. How does a histogram differ from a bar graph, and what is the total frequency?
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Think about whether the horizontal axis shows separate categories or continuous ranges of numbers.
Step-by-step solution

Total frequency: 4+9+6+3=224 + 9 + 6 + 3 = 22

Difference between a histogram and a bar graph:

  1. A histogram represents grouped (continuous) data using class intervals, so the bars are drawn adjacent to each other with no gaps.
  2. A bar graph represents discrete or categorical data, so the bars have equal gaps between them.
  3. In a histogram, the width of each bar corresponds to the class interval; in a bar graph, the width has no special meaning.

Here, since the class intervals (100-150, etc.) are continuous, a histogram is appropriate and the bars will touch each other.

Common mistake:
Leaving gaps between bars in a histogram, or thinking a histogram and bar graph are the same thing.
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Q9 • 4 marks

A number is selected at random from the numbers 1 to 25. Find the probability that the number is (a) a multiple of 5, (b) a perfect square, (c) neither prime nor 1.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
For each condition, can you list out exactly which of the 25 numbers qualify?
Step-by-step solution

Total outcomes =25= 25 (numbers 11 to 2525).

(a) Multiple of 5: {5,10,15,20,25}\{5, 10, 15, 20, 25\}, count =5= 5. P=525=15P = \frac{5}{25} = \frac{1}{5}

(b) Perfect square: {1,4,9,16,25}\{1, 4, 9, 16, 25\}, count =5= 5. P=525=15P = \frac{5}{25} = \frac{1}{5}

(c) Neither prime nor 1: Primes up to 25 are {2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23}\{2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23\} (9 numbers), plus the number 11. So numbers that ARE prime or 1 =9+1=10= 9 + 1 = 10. Therefore numbers that are neither =2510=15= 25 - 10 = 15. P=1525=35P = \frac{15}{25} = \frac{3}{5}

Common mistake:
Counting 1 as a prime number, or forgetting to exclude 1 separately in part (c).
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Q10 • 4 marks

In a survey, 720 people were asked their favourite fruit. The results were Mango 240, Apple 180, Banana 120, Orange 180. Find the central angle for each fruit to draw a pie chart.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
What fraction of the total does each fruit represent, and how do you convert that fraction into an angle?
Step-by-step solution

Central angle =value of itemtotal×360= \dfrac{\text{value of item}}{\text{total}} \times 360^\circ. Total =720= 720.

| Fruit | Number | Central Angle | |---|---|---| | Mango | 240 | 240720×360=120\frac{240}{720}\times 360^\circ = 120^\circ | | Apple | 180 | 180720×360=90\frac{180}{720}\times 360^\circ = 90^\circ | | Banana | 120 | 120720×360=60\frac{120}{720}\times 360^\circ = 60^\circ | | Orange | 180 | 180720×360=90\frac{180}{720}\times 360^\circ = 90^\circ |

Check: 120+90+60+90=360120^\circ + 90^\circ + 60^\circ + 90^\circ = 360^\circ. ✓

Common mistake:
Using the percentage directly as the angle without multiplying by 360°, or using a wrong total.
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Q11 • 3 marks

A spinner has 8 equal sectors numbered 1 to 8. Find the probability that the spinner lands on (a) an odd number, (b) a number less than 3, (c) a number divisible by 3.
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Since all sectors are equal, how many out of 8 satisfy each condition?
Step-by-step solution

Total equally likely outcomes =8= 8: {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8}\{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8\}.

(a) Odd number: {1,3,5,7}\{1,3,5,7\}, count =4= 4. P(odd)=48=12P(\text{odd}) = \frac{4}{8} = \frac{1}{2}

(b) Number less than 3: {1,2}\{1,2\}, count =2= 2. P(<3)=28=14P(<3) = \frac{2}{8} = \frac{1}{4}

(c) Divisible by 3: {3,6}\{3,6\}, count =2= 2. P(divisible by 3)=28=14P(\text{divisible by 3}) = \frac{2}{8} = \frac{1}{4}

Common mistake:
Including 3 in 'less than 3', or forgetting that divisibility by 3 excludes numbers like 9 which is not on the spinner.
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Q12 • 4 marks

The daily wages (in ₹) of 40 workers are grouped as: 200-250 (5 workers), 250-300 (12 workers), 300-350 (15 workers), 350-400 (8 workers). Which class interval should be the tallest bar in the histogram, and what fraction of workers earn ₹300 or more?
Hint (Socratic — try this first)
Which interval has the greatest frequency, and which intervals include wages of ₹300 and above?
Step-by-step solution

Frequency table:

| Wages (₹) | Workers | |---|---| | 200-250 | 5 | | 250-300 | 12 | | 300-350 | 15 | | 350-400 | 8 |

Tallest bar: The class interval 300-350300\text{-}350 has the highest frequency (1515), so its bar will be the tallest.

Workers earning ₹300 or more: These fall in intervals 300-350300\text{-}350 and 350-400350\text{-}400. =15+8=23 workers= 15 + 8 = 23 \text{ workers}

Fraction of total workers: 2340\frac{23}{40}

Total check: 5+12+15+8=405 + 12 + 15 + 8 = 40. ✓

Common mistake:
Including the 250-300 group when counting '₹300 or more', or not verifying the frequencies sum to the total number of workers.
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FAQs about this chapter

When should I draw a histogram instead of a bar chart?+

Use a histogram for grouped continuous data where the class intervals are equal — bars touch each other. Use a bar chart for categorical or discrete data — bars stay separated.

All Class 8 Mathematics chapters

  1. 1.Rational Numbers
  2. 2.Linear Equations in One Variable
  3. 3.Understanding Quadrilaterals
  4. 4.Data Handling
  5. 5.Squares and Square Roots
  6. 6.Cubes and Cube Roots
  7. 7.Comparing Quantities
  8. 8.Algebraic Expressions and Identities
  9. 9.Mensuration
  10. 10.Exponents and Powers
  11. 11.Direct and Inverse Proportions
  12. 12.Factorisation
  13. 13.Introduction to Graphs

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