Different Ways of Graphical Representation of Data

Whenever verbal problems involving a certain situation are presented visually before the learners, it makes easier for the learner to understand the problem and attempt its solution. Similarly, when the data are presented pictorially (or graphically) before the learners, it makes the presentation eye-catching and more intelligible. The learners can easily see the salient features of the data and interpret them. There are many forms of representing data graphically. They are

Bar graphs:
A bar graph is a graphical representation of frequency distributions of ungrouped data. It is a pictorial representation of the numerical data by a number of bars (rectangles) of uniform width erected vertically (or horizontally) with equal spacing between them. Example: The number of trees planted by an agency in different years is given below:

Solution: The Bar Graph is:

Histograms
A histogram is a graphical representation of a continuous frequency distribution i.e. grouped frequency distributions. It is a graph, including vertical rectangles, with no space between the rectangles. The class-intervals are taken along the horizontal axis and the respective class frequencies on the vertical axis using suitable scales on each axis. For each class, a rectangle is drawn with base as width of the class and height as the class frequency. The area of the rectangles must be proportional to the frequencies of the respective classes. Examples: The following is the frequency distribution of weights of 30 students of class IX of a school. Draw a histogram to represent the data.

Solution:

Frequency polygons A frequency polygon is the join of the mid-points of the tops of the adjoining rectangles. The mid-points of the first and the last classes are joined to the mid-points of the classes preceding and succeeding respectively at zero frequency to complete the polygon. Example: Daily earnings of 100 shopkeepers are given below:

Draw histogram and frequency polygon to represent above data.

Note: Dotted line represents frequency polygon.

Temperature-Time Graph (Line Graphs) Example: The body temperature of the patient admitted to the hospital with typhoid fever at different times of the day is given below. Such conditions can be represented using Temperature-Time graph as follows:

Pictographs
A Pictograph is a way of showing data using images. Each image stands for a certain number of things. Example: Apples Sold Here is a pictograph of how many apples were sold at the local shop over 4 months:

Note that each picture of an apple means 10 apples. (The half-apple picture means 5 apples). So the pictograph is showing: o In January 10 apples were sold o In February 40 apples were sold o In March 25 apples were sold o In April 20 apples were sold
It is a fun and interesting way to show data. But it is not very accurate: in the example above we can't show just 1 apple sold, or 2 apples sold etc.

Pie Charts
It is a circular chart divided into sectors each of whose length (consequently its central angle and area), is proportional to the quantity it represents. When angles are measured with 1 turn as unit then a number of percent is identified with the same number of centiturns. Together, the sectors create a full disk. It is named for its resemblance to a pie which has been sliced. The pie chart is perhaps the most widely used statistical chart in the business world and the mass media. However, it has been criticized, and some recommend avoiding it, pointing out in particular that it is difficult to compare different sections of a given pie chart, or to compare data across different pie charts. Pie charts can be an effective way of displaying information in some cases, in particular if the intent is to compare the size of a slice with the whole pie, rather than comparing the slices among them. Pie charts work particularly well when the slices represent 25 to 50% of the data, but in general, other plots such as the bar chart or the dot plot, or non-graphical methods such as tables, may be more adapted for representing certain information. It also shows the frequency within certain groups of information. Example:

Pie chart regarding the percentage of voters voting for a particular party at European Parliament Election in 2004: