Simple Charts and Graphs – GCSE Mathematics Eduqas Revision

Bar charts represent categorical data with rectangular bars. Each bar’s height or length corresponds to the quantity of the category it represents.
Histograms are a type of bar chart used to represent frequency distributions. They show grouped data by intervals, with the height of the bar showing the frequency of data in each group.
Pie charts present data as a portion of a whole, where each slice corresponds to a category. The size of each slice is proportional to the quantity it represents.
Line graphs depict information in a series over a period of time, and show trends or patterns. The x-axis often represents time, while the y-axis represents the quantity.

Bar charts are ideal for comparing quantities across different categories, like the number of students in each faculty.
Histograms are useful for showing frequency distributions, like the distribution of marks on a test.
Pie charts are often used when you want to show percentage or proportional data, like the breakdown of budget allocations.
Line graphs are best for showing change over time, like population growth or decline.

To create a bar chart, list the categories on one axis and the quantities on the other, then draw rectangles whose height or length match the quantities.
To draw a histogram, first group the data into intervals on the x-axis. On the y-axis, plot the frequency, and then draw bars corresponding to each interval.
To make a pie chart, calculate the proportion of the whole each category represents, turn these into degrees and then divide the pie accordingly.
To make a line graph, mark time intervals on the x-axis, and quantities on the y-axis. For each period of time, plot a point corresponding to the quantity, then connect these points.

In a bar chart, the bars can be rearranged as they represent separate categories. In contrast, the bars in a histogram are connected because they represent continuous data.
A pie chart can be misleading if used to compare similar proportions; small differences are hard to discern.
A line graph is only accurate for data that is continuous and measured at equal intervals.
These chart types do not represent all possibilities, and it’s crucial to select a chart or graph that suits your data best to avoid misinterpretation.