Types of graphs used in Math and Statistics

Descriptive Statistics: Charts, Graphs and Plots > Types of Graphs

Common Types of Graphs

Contents (click to skip to the section):
Bar Graph
Segmented Bar Graph
Column Graph
Box and Whiskers Graph (also called a Box Plot)
Frequency Graph (Frequency Table)
Cumulative Frequency Table
Frequency Polygon
Funnel Chart
Histogram
Line Graph
Timeplot
Relative Frequency Histogram
Pie Chart
Scatter Plot
Stemplot

Types of Graphs: Bar Graphs

A bar graph is a type of chart that has bars showing different categories and the amounts in each category.
See: Bar Graph Examples
Segmented Bar Graph

This type of graph is a type of bar chart that is stacked, and where the bars show 100 percent of the
discrete value.
See: Segmented Bar Chart, What is it?
Column Graph
Microsoft Excel calls a bar graph with vertical bars a column graph and a bar graph with horizontal bars a bar graph.

See: Column Chart Excel 2013

Types of Graphs: Box and Whiskers (Boxplots)

This type of graph, sometimes called a boxplot, is useful for showing the five number summary.
See: Box and Whiskers Chart

Types of Graphs: Frequency Distributions

A frequency chart.

Although technically not what most people would call a graph, it is a basic way to show how data is
spread out.
See: Frequency Distribution Table.

Cumulative Frequency Table

A table that shows how values accumulate.

See: Cumulative Frequency Distribution Table.
Frequency Polygon

This type of graph is almost identical to a histogram. Where histograms use rectangle, these graphs use dots, which
are then joined together.
See: Frequency Polygon.
Types of Graphs: Histogram

A way to display data counts with data organized into bins.

See: Histogram.
Relative Frequency Histogram

A relative frequency histogram shows relative frequencies.

See: Relative Frequency Histogram.

Types of Graphs: Line Graphs

This graph of -4 5x+3.

A graph that shows a line; usually with an equation. Can be straight or curved lines.
See: Line Graph
Timeplot

A Dow Jones Timeplot from the Wall Street Journal shows how the stock market changes over time.

A time plot is similar to a line graph. However, it always plots time on the x-axis.
See: Timeplot.

Types of Graphs: Pie Graphs

Pie chart showing water consumption. Image courtesy of EPA.

As the name suggested, these types of graph look like pies.

See: Pie Chart: What is it used for?

Types of Graphs: Scatter Graphs

A scatter plot.

These charts use dots to plot data points. the dots are “scattered” across the page.
See: Scatter plot.

Types of Graphs: Stemplots

Stemplots help you to visualize all of the individual elements of a data set.
FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION:

Data can be presented in various forms depending on the type of data collected. A
frequency distribution is a table showing how often each value (or set of values) of the
variable in question occurs in a data set. A frequency table is used to summarize
categorical or numerical data. Frequencies are also presented as relative frequencies,
that is, the percentage of the total number in the sample.

EXAMPLE: Frequency distribution of peptic ulcer according to

site of ulcer
Site of ulcer Frequency Percent
Gastric ulcer 24 30.0
Duodenal ulcer 50 62.5
Gastric and duodenal ulcer 6 7.5
TOTAL 80 100

GRAPHICAL METHODS:

Frequency distributions and are usually illustrated graphically by plotting various types
of graphs:

Bar graph - A bar graph is a way of

summarizing a set of categorical
data. It displays the data using a
number of rectangles, of the same
width, each of which represents a
particular category. Bar graphs can
be displayed horizontally or vertically
and they are usually drawn with a gap
between the bars (rectangles).

Histogram - A histogram is a way of

summarizing data that are measured
on an interval scale (either discrete or
continuous). It is often used in
exploratory data analysis to illustrate
the features of the distribution of the
data in a convenient form.

Pie chart - A pie chart is used to

display a set of categorical data. It is
a circle, which is divided into
segments. Each segment represents
a particular category. The area of
each segment is proportional to the
number of cases in that category.
Line graph - A line graph is
particularly useful when we want to
show the trend of a variable over
time. Time is displayed on the
horizontal axis (x-axis) and the
variable is displayed on the vertical
axis (y- axis).

5.2 - Reference - Graphs of eight basic types of functions

The purpose of this reference section is to show you graphs of various types of
functions in order that you can become familiar with the types. You will discover that
each type has its own distinctive graph. By showing several graphs on one plot you
will be able to see their common features. Examples of the following types of
functions are shown in this gallery:

 linear
 quadratic
 power
 polynomial
 rational
 exponential
 logarithmic
 sinusoidal

In each case the argument (input) of the function is called x and the value (output) of
the function is called y.

Linear functions. These are functions

of the form:
y = m x + b,
where m and b are constants. A
typical use for linear functions is
converting from one quantity or set
of units to another. Graphs of these
functions are straight lines. m is the
slope and b is the y intercept. If m is
positive then the line rises to the
right and if m is negative then the line
falls to the right. Linear functions are
described in detail here.
Quadratic functions. These are
functions of the form:
y = a x 2+ b x + c,
where a, b and c are constants. Their
graphs are called parabolas. This is
the next simplest type of function
after the linear function. Falling
objects move along parabolic paths.
If a is a positive number then the
parabola opens upward and if a is a
negative number then the parabola
opens downward. Quadratic
functions are described in
detail here.

Power functions. These are functions of the form:

y = a x b,
where a and b are constants. They get their name from the fact that the variable x is
raised to some power. Many physical laws (e.g. the gravitational force as a function
of distance between two objects, or the bending of a beam as a function of the load
on it) are in the form of power functions. We will assume that a = 1 and look at
several cases for b:

The power b is a positive integer. See

the graph to the right. When x = 0
these functions are all zero. When x is
big and positive they are all big and
positive. When x is big and negative
then the ones with even powers are big
and positive while the ones with odd
powers are big and negative.
The power b is a negative
integer. See the graph to the right.
When x = 0 these functions suffer a
division by zero and therefore are all
infinite. When x is big and positive
they are small and positive. When x is
big and negative then the ones with
even powers are small and positive
while the ones with odd powers are
small and negative.

The power b is a fraction between 0 and

1. See the graph to the right. When x = 0
these functions are all zero. The curves
are vertical at the origin and
as x increases they increase but curve
toward the x axis.

The power function is discussed in

detail here.

Polynomial functions. These are

functions of the form:
y=

an · x n + an −1 · x n −1 + … + a2 · x 2 + a1 · x + a0,
where an, an −1, … , a2, a1, a0 are constants. Only whole number powers of x are
allowed. The highest power of x that occurs is called the degree of the polynomial.
The graph shows examples of degree 4 and degree 5 polynomials. The degree gives
the maximum number of “ups and downs” that the polynomial can have and also the
maximum number of crossings of the x axis that it can have.

Polynomials are useful for generating smooth curves in computer graphics

applications and for approximating other types of functions. Polynomials are
described in detail here.

Rational
functions. These
functions are the ratio of
two polynomials. One
field of study where they
are important is in
stability analysis of
mechanical and electrical
systems (which uses
Laplace transforms).

When the polynomial in

the denominator is zero
then the rational function becomes infinite as indicated by a vertical dotted line
(called an asymptote) in its graph. For the example to the right this happens
when x = −2 and when x = 7.

When x becomes very large the curve may level off. The curve to the right levels off
at y = 5.

The graph to the right shows another example

of a rational function. This one has a division by
zero at x = 0. It doesn't level off but does
approach the straight line y = x when x is large,
as indicated by the dotted line (another
asymptote).
Exponential functions. These are functions
of the form:
y = a b x,
where x is in an exponent (not in the base
as was the case for power functions)
and a and b are constants. (Note that
only b is raised to the power x; not a.) If
the base b is greater than 1 then the result
is exponential growth. Many physical
quantities grow exponentially (e.g. animal
populations and cash in an interest-
bearing account).

If the base b is smaller than 1 then the

result is exponential decay. Many
quantities decay exponentially (e.g.
the sunlight reaching a given depth of
the ocean and the speed of an object
slowing down due to friction).

Exponential functions are described in

detail here.

Logarithmic functions. There are

many equivalent ways to define
logarithmic functions. We will
define them to be of the form:
y = a ln (x) + b,
where x is in the natural
logarithm and a and b are
constants. They are only defined
for positive x. For small x they
are negative and for large xthey
are positive but stay small.
Logarithmic functions accurately
describe the response of the human ear to sounds of varying loudness and the
response of the human eye to light of varying brightness. Logarithmic functions are
described in detail here.
Sinusoidal functions. These are
functions of the form:
y = a sin (b x + c),
where a, b and c are constants.
Sinusoidal functions are useful for
describing anything that has a
wave shape with respect to
position or time. Examples are
waves on the water, the height of
the tide during the course of the
day and alternating current in
electricity. Parameter a (called the
amplitude) affects the height of
the wave, b (the angular velocity) affects the width of the wave and c (the phase
angle) shifts the wave left or right. Sinusoidal functions are described in detail here.
 BASIS FOR
PARAMETRIC TEST NONPARAMETRIC TEST
COMPARISON

Meaning A statistical test, in which A statistical test used in the

specific assumptions are case of non-metric
made about the population independent variables, is
parameter is known as called non-parametric test.
parametric test.

Basis of test Distribution Arbitrary

statistic

Measurement Interval or ratio Nominal or ordinal

level

Measure of Mean Median

central tendency

Information about Completely known Unavailable

population

Applicability Variables Variables and Attributes

Correlation test Pearson Spearman

Definition of Parametric Test

The parametric test is the hypothesis test which provides generalisations for
making statements about the mean of the parent population. A t-test based on
Student’s t-statistic, which is often used in this regard.

The t-statistic rests on the underlying assumption that there is the normal
distribution of variable and the mean in known or assumed to be known. The
population variance is calculated for the sample. It is assumed that the variables
of interest, in the population are measured on an interval scale.

Definition of Nonparametric Test

The nonparametric test is defined as the hypothesis test which is not based on
underlying assumptions, i.e. it does not require population’s distribution to be
denoted by specific parameters.

The test is mainly based on differences in medians. Hence, it is alternately known

as the distribution-free test. The test assumes that the variables are measured on
a nominal or ordinal level. It is used when the independent variables are non-
metric.
Key Differences Between Parametric and Nonparametric
Tests
The fundamental differences between parametric and nonparametric test are
discussed in the following points:

1. A statistical test, in which specific assumptions are made about the

population parameter is known as the parametric test. A statistical test
used in the case of non-metric independent variables is called
nonparametric test.
2. In the parametric test, the test statistic is based on distribution. On the
other hand, the test statistic is arbitrary in the case of the nonparametric
test.
3. In the parametric test, it is assumed that the measurement of variables of
interest is done on interval or ratio level. As opposed to the nonparametric
test, wherein the variable of interest are measured on nominal or ordinal
scale.
4. In general, the measure of central tendency in the parametric test is mean,
while in the case of the nonparametric test is median.
5. In the parametric test, there is complete information about the population.
Conversely, in the nonparametric test, there is no information about the
population.
6. The applicability of parametric test is for variables only, whereas
nonparametric test applies to both variables and attributes.
7. For measuring the degree of association between two quantitative
variables, Pearson’s coefficient of correlation is used in the parametric test,
while spearman’s rank correlation is used in the nonparametric test.

Hypothesis Tests Hierarchy

Equivalent Tests

PARAMETRIC TEST NON-PARAMETRIC TEST

Independent Sample t Test Mann-Whitney test

Paired samples t test Wilcoxon signed Rank test

One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Kruskal Wallis Test

One way repeated measures Analysis of Variance Friedman's ANOVA