Charts & Graphs

Why is visualizing data important?

It helps quickly understand and communicate patterns, comparisons, and trends.

What two factors should you focus on when choosing the right chart type in Excel?

• The type of data you're working with (categorical, time series, or numerical).

• What you want to communicate (comparison, composition, relationship, or distribution).

What type of data is best for a line chart?

Time series data to show trends over time.

In what scenario is a line chart ideal to use?

Line charts are ideal for visualizing trends over time, using time series data to communicate comparisons.

When should you use a bar chart?

To compare values across categories.

What does a pie chart show?

Composition of parts within a whole—best used with fewer than 6 categories.

What is a combo chart?

A chart combining multiple types (e.g., line and bar) to show relationships.

When should you use a secondary axis in a combo chart?

When you want to display two different data sets with varying scales, allowing for better comparison.

What is a scatterplot used for?

To show relationships or correlations between two numerical variables.

Which chart type can't be created directly from a Pivot Table in Excel?

Histograms — They can’t be created directly using Pivot Table data, but you can insert a blank chart and manually link it to a Pivot Table-based series.

Which chart type is best for visualizing the relationship between two numerical variables?

Scatterplots — they show relationships or correlations between two numerical variables.