How To Make A Graph In Microsoft Excel Or Google Sheets – SlashGear

If you’ve been putting off creating and using charts for school or education purposes, you’re not alone. Creating these elements within spreadsheets can be difficult, but knowing which type to use for your specific data set can be even more challenging.

By themselves, complex data sets containing variables and numbers can overwhelm and confuse when presented as raw numbers. In these instances, graphs simplify the information, revealing trends and patterns otherwise concealed. Beyond understanding when to employ diagrams, selecting the appropriate Chart is equally crucial for telling your data’s story. While there are many graph types, three fundamental categories should be in your toolbelt: bar, pie, and plot charts.

Bar charts excel in representing categorical data, permitting comparisons across groups. With horizontal or vertical orientations, these charts depict frequency, count, or other measurements, providing a clear image of differences between categories.

Pie charts are advantageous when illustrating proportions or percentages within a whole. These circular diagrams divide the data into segments, each representing a specific category. By comparing the relative sizes of these slices, one can quickly ascertain the comparative importance of each component.

Lastly, plot charts, often called scatter or line graphs, are ideal for visualizing relationships between two continuous variables. Scatter plots display individual data points, while line graphs connect these points, emphasizing trends over time. These charts are handy for identifying data correlations or deviations.