Graphs and Charts for Business Data

(d) Move here

It is used when the chart has to be moved to another location.

(d) Change the data values used to create the chart

Chart tools and Ribbon options allow changes in chart layout, chart type, formatting, and related chart settings.

(a) the formatting for text like titles and data labels

Chart elements like titles, labels, legends, gridlines, plot area, and text can be formatted and edited as required.

(b) Design, Layout, Format

These are the three chart tool tabs shown for working with chart formatting and presentation. They are used to change chart type, layout, style, and formatting of chart elements.

(c) Seven

The text clearly mentions that in Excel, a Pie chart cannot plot more than seven categories. Pie chart is used to show parts of a whole.

(c) Both a and b

Column charts are useful both for showing changes over time and for comparing items.

(c) Both a and b

A doughnut chart is similar to a pie chart, but it can contain more than one data series. That is why both statements are correct.

(c) Category, value, series

2-D charts use category and value axes, while 3-D charts add a depth axis, also called the series axis or Z-axis.

(c) a and b both

Excel updates or redraws the chart automatically when changes are made in chart data or in the selected data range.

(a) anywhere

Legend is a chart element and it can be repositioned as needed on the chart for better presentation.

(b) Data labels

\Data labels provide additional information about data markers and help identify the details of data points in a series.

(a) Home

Text in chart elements can be formatted using regular text formatting options available through Home tab font controls.

(b) Selecting values

Charts are mainly used for identifying trends, recognising patterns, making comparisons, and presenting information visually. Selecting values is not the main purpose of charts.

(c) ChartTip

This refers to the tip shown when the mouse pointer is moved over a chart object.

(d) Current Selection

On the Format tab, the Current Selection group is used to select chart elements and work with their formatting.

A graph is a pictorial representation of data and it generally shows data through axes such as X-axis and Y-axis. A graph may be a single-line graph or a multi-line graph. A chart is also a pictorial presentation of data and Excel uses the word chart for different visual forms such as line chart, pie chart, bar chart, column chart, doughnut chart and radar chart. In simple words, both charts and graphs present data visually so that it becomes easier to understand.

Charts and graphs are useful in business decisions because a large amount of raw data is often difficult to understand in tabular form. Visual presentation helps in easy comparison, trend analysis and understanding of fluctuations. For example, sales, production, demand, quarterly performance and market movement can be understood more quickly through charts than through plain figures. They help management identify trends, recognise patterns and compare values for better decision-making.

The three charts are used for different purposes, depending on the nature of data.

Thus, column chart is useful for comparison, pie chart for proportion, and line chart for trend analysis.

A data series means related data points that are plotted in a chart. Data markers of the same colour form a data series. Each series represents one set of related values in the chart. A chart may have one or more data series. Pie charts generally have only one data series, while many other charts can have multiple series.

A legend is an identifier of the information shown in the chart. It helps in identifying different data series or categories by their colour, pattern or symbol. In a multi-line graph, bar chart or other multi-series chart, the legend helps the reader understand which series represents which item.

A data label provides additional information about a data marker. It helps identify the details of a data point in a data series, such as value, category name or percentage depending on the chart type. Data labels make the chart more informative and easier to read.

A pie chart is best when we want to show how different parts contribute to a total. A line chart is best when we want to study movement or trend. A column chart is best when we want to compare different items or time periods clearly.

This is used when the chart has to be shifted from one place to another.

This is done when the chart needs to be made larger or smaller for better presentation.

This is used when the chart has to be placed in a better position without changing its size.

In a chart, especially in a pie chart, percentage represents the share of one category out of the total value of all categories. Each slice shows how much that category contributes to the whole. The whole pie represents 100%, and each individual slice shows its proportional share.

The software calculates this percentage automatically by dividing the value of one category by the total of all categories and then multiplying by 100. That is why pie chart is useful for showing contribution or percentage share. For example, if one quarter contributes a larger amount to total sales, its slice will be larger and its percentage will also be higher.

So, percentage in chart means proportional contribution, and Excel calculates it automatically from the selected values.

A doughnut chart is comparable with a pie chart, but unlike a pie chart it can contain more than one data series. Radar, pie and doughnut charts are specially mentioned as charts without normal horizontal category axes.

In 2-D charts, the horizontal axis usually contains categories and the vertical axis contains values. In 3-D charts, a third axis called the depth axis or series axis is added.

A pie chart is a chart in which the whole circle represents the total value and each slice represents a category’s share in that total. It is used to show the relationship of parts to a whole. Pie chart is suitable when only one data series is plotted and when all values are positive and not equal to zero. Excel also mentions that pie chart should not have more than seven categories.

The percentage values in a pie chart show the contribution of each category to the total. Since the whole pie equals 100%, each slice’s percentage tells what portion of the total is represented by that category. If one category has a bigger value, its slice will be larger and its percentage will also be larger.

So, pie chart is used for proportional presentation, and the percentage values show the relative share of each category in the total.

Excel can prepare many types of charts for different forms of data presentation. These include:

Excel also allows sub-types such as stacked column chart and 3-D pie chart. It is even possible to change one chart type into another and create a better presentation based on the nature of the data.

Thus, Excel provides a wide variety of chart types so that business data can be presented in the most suitable visual form.

For this activity, a worksheet should first be prepared with year-wise data from 2001 to 2008. The note clearly says:

If:

then:

These formulas can be copied down for all years.

A line chart should be used here because trend charts are used to show movement over time. Line charts are suitable for showing rise or fall across years. Charts and graphs are useful for visualising trends clearly.

1. Enter the data in the worksheet with proper headings.

2. Select the full data range.

3. Go to Insert tab.

4. Choose Line Chart.

5. Add chart title and axis titles.

6. Show legend for the data series.

The trend chart will show that:

So, this chart gives a clear picture of literacy trend over the years.

For this question, the pie chart should be prepared using the Total values from the previous table. Since column number 3 means the Total section, the required comparison is based on:

A pie chart works best for showing parts of a whole. So one year can be selected for comparison. Taking 2008 as an example:

Total population considered = 829 + 356 = 1185

So:

1. Select the two columns: Category and Value.

2. Go to Insert tab.

3. Select Pie Chart.

4. Add data labels to show values or percentages.

5. Add a suitable chart title.

Pie chart is used to show the relationship of parts to a whole, and the whole pie represents 100%. Excel also notes that pie chart is best when only one data series is used.

Thus, the pie chart will clearly show what share of the total population is literate and what share is illiterate for the selected year.

This question requires separate trend charts for:

1. Male

2. Female

3. Total

All three should be prepared as line charts, because a trend chart is best represented through a line graph. A graph may be a single-line or multi-line graph, and line graphs are useful for showing changes over time.

These separate trend charts will make it easier to compare:

This gives a clearer visual understanding than one combined chart.

A column chart should be prepared separately for:

and in each chart there should be comparison between:

Column charts are useful for showing comparisons among items and also for showing changes over time.

Thus, three separate column charts should be prepared. These charts will show year-wise comparison of literate and illiterate categories in a clearer and more direct way.

For this activity, the area of 10 plots is given. We can label them as Plot 1 to Plot 10.

Total area = 5 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 8 + 10 + 4 + 6 + 7 + 3 = 67 hectares

The pie chart will show each plot’s share in the total area. Since pie charts show parts of a whole, this is a suitable use.

The column chart will compare the absolute area of the 10 plots. Bar and column charts are used for comparison of values.

So:

Both together give a complete picture of plot distribution.

Total = 575 + 5889 + 12345 + 9765 + 23456 + 65 = 52095

A pie chart is suitable here because it shows the contribution of each vehicle category to the total number of registered vehicles. The whole pie represents 100%.

The chart will clearly show that:

Thus, the pie chart gives an immediate visual comparison of vehicle registration share.

The total number of students is 1000.

A column chart is most suitable here because it compares the number of students in different marks ranges. Column charts are useful for illustrating comparison among items.

The chart will show that:

This makes the distribution of marks easy to understand visually.

1. Enter the marks range and number of students in two columns.

2. Select the data.

3. Go to Insert tab.

4. Choose Column Chart.

5. Add chart title, axis title and data labels if needed.