Types of Graphs

Statistics – Types of Data
Types of graphs
1. Line Graphs
A line chart graphically displays data that changes continuously over
time. Each line graph consists of points that connect data to show a trend
(continuous change). Line graphs have an x-axis and a y-axis. In the most
cases, time is distributed on the horizontal axis.
Uses of line graphs:

 When you want to show trends. For example, how house prices
have increased over time.
 When you want to make predictions based on a data history over
time.
 When comparing two or more different variables, situations, and
information over a given period of time.
Note: the above example is with 1 line. However, one line chart can
compare multiple trends by several distributing lines.
2. Bar Charts
Bar charts represent categorical data with rectangular bars (to understand
what is categorical data see categorical data examples). Bar graphs are
among the most popular types of graphs and charts in economics,
statistics, marketing, and visualization in digital customer experience.
They are commonly used to compare several categories of data.
Each rectangular bar has length and height proportional to the values that
they represent.
One axis of the bar chart presents the categories being compared. The
other axis shows a measured value.
Bar Charts Uses:

 When you want to display data that are grouped into nominal or
ordinal categories (see nominal vs ordinal data).
 To compare data among different categories.
 Bar charts can also show large data changes over time.
 Bar charts are ideal for visualizing the distribution of data when we
have more than three categories.
3. Pie Charts
When it comes to statistical types of graphs and charts, the pie chart (or the
circle chart) has a crucial place and meaning. It displays data and statistics
in an easy-to-understand ‘pie-slice’ format and illustrates numerical
proportion.
Each pie slice is relative to the size of a particular category in a given

group as a whole. To say it in another way, the pie chart brakes down a
group into smaller pieces. It shows part-whole relationships.
To make a pie chart, you need a list of categorical variables and numerical
variables.
Pie Chart Uses:

 When you want to create and represent the composition of
something.
 It is very useful for displaying nominal or ordinal categories of
data.
 To show percentage or proportional data.
 When comparing areas of growth within a business such as profit.
 Pie charts work best for displaying data for 3 to 7 categories.
Pie charts are widely used by data-driven marketers for displaying
marketing data.
4. Histogram
A histogram shows continuous data in ordered rectangular columns (to
understand what is continuous data see our post discrete vs continuous
data). Usually, there are no gaps between the columns.
The histogram displays a frequency distribution (shape) of a data set. At
first glance, histograms look alike to bar graphs. However, there is a key
difference between them. Bar Chart represents categorical data and
histogram represent continuous data.
Histogram Uses:
 When the data is continuous.
 When you want to represent the shape of the data’s distribution.
 When you want to see whether the outputs of two or more processes
are different.
 To summarize large data sets graphically.
 To communicate the data distribution quickly to others.
Histograms are very widely used in statistics, business, and economics.
5. Scatter plot
The scatter plot is an X-Y diagram that shows a relationship between two
variables. It is used to plot data points on a vertical and a horizontal axis.
The purpose is to show how much one variable affects another.
Usually, when there is a relationship between 2 variables, the first one is

called independent. The second variable is called dependent because its
values depend on the first variable.
Scatter plots also help you predict the behavior of one variable (dependent)
based on the measure of the other variable (independent).
Scatter plot uses:

 When trying to find out whether there is a relationship between 2
variables.
 To predict the behavior of dependent variable based on the measure
of the independent variable.
 When having paired numerical data.
 When working with root cause analysis tools to identify the potential
for problems.
 When you just want to visualize the correlation between 2 large
datasets without regard to time.
The orange line you see in the plot is called “line of best fit” or a “trend
line”. This line is used to help us make predictions that are based on past
data.
The Scatter plots are used widely in data science and statistics. They are a
great tool for visualizing linear regression models.
6. Venn Chart
Venn Diagram (also called primary diagram, set diagram or logic
diagrams) uses overlapping circles to visualize the logical relationships
between two or more group of items.
Venn Diagram is one of the types of graphs and charts used in scientific
and engineering presentations, in computer applications, in maths, and in
statistics.
The basic structure of the Venn diagram is usually overlapping circles.

The items in the overlapping section have specific common characteristics.
Items in the outer portions of the circles do not have common traits.
Venn Chart Uses:

 When you want to compare and contrast groups of things.
 To categorize or group items.
 To illustrate logical relationships from various datasets.
 To identify all the possible relationships between collections of
datasets.
7. Area Charts
Area charts show the change in one or several quantities over time. They
are very similar to the line chart. However, the area between axis and line
are usually filled with colors.
Despite line and area charts support the same type of analysis, they cannot
be always used interchangeably. Line charts are often used to represent
multiple data sets. Area charts cannot show multiple data sets clearly
because area charts show a filled area below the line.
Area Chart Uses:

 When you want to show trends, rather than express specific values.
 To show a simple comparison of the trend of data sets over the
period of time.
 To display the magnitude of a change.
 To compare a small number of categories.
The area chart has 2 variants: a variant with data plots overlapping each
other and a variant with data plots stacked on top of each other (known
as stacked area chart – as the shown in the following example).
This area chart shows you a quick comparison of the trend in the quarterly
sales of Product A and Product B over the period of the last year.
Spline Chart
The Spline Chart is one of the most widespread types of graphs and charts
used in statistics. It is a form of the line chart that represent smooth curves
through the different data points.
Spline charts possess all the characteristics of a line chart except that
spline charts have a fitted curved line to join the data points. In
comparison, line charts connect data points with straight lines.
Spline Chart Uses:

 When you want to plot data that requires the usage of curve-fitting
such as a product lifecycle chart or an impulse-response chart.
 Spline charts are often used in designing Pareto charts.
 Spline chart also is often used for data modeling by when you have
limited number of data points and estimating the intervening values.

Types of Graphs

Uploaded by

Types of Graphs

Uploaded by

Statistics – Types of Data

Uses of line graphs:

Bar Charts Uses:

Each pie slice is relative to the size of a particular category in a given

Pie Chart Uses:

Usually, when there is a relationship between 2 variables, the first one is

Scatter plot uses:

The basic structure of the Venn diagram is usually overlapping circles.

Venn Chart Uses:

Area Chart Uses:

Spline Chart Uses:

You might also like