The following data has been collected: [table]
Year | Total Sales 2016 | 25623 2017 | 27880 2018 | 30210
[/table] Which graph type would be the most suitable to show the Total Sales over time?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To determine the best graph for showing Total Sales over time, we first restate the scenario and options to ensure clarity.
Option a: Pie graph. Pie charts are designed to display proportions of a whole at a single point in time, comparing parts to a total. They are not ideal for illustrating changes across multiple time periods, since they don’t convey trends or trajectories over time.
Option b: Line chart. Line charts are specifically suited for time-series data because they plot data points in chronological order and connect them with a line, making it easy to observe increases, decreases, and overall trends across years.
In this dataset, you have Total Sales for 2016, 2017, and 2018. Visualizing these three (or more) sequential points as a line graph allows a viewer to quickly perceive how sales evolve year by year, including whether sales are rising or falling and at what rate. The line provides continuity between the points, which is useful for detecting smooth trends or abrupt changes.
Alternatively, if the goal were to compare parts of a whole within a single year, a pie chart might be appropriate, but not for showing a progression over time. Pie charts become cluttered and less informative when used to display multiple time points, and they fail to convey temporal relationships.
Therefore, Option a is not suitable for the goal of showing Total Sales over time, whereas Option b directly aligns with the objective by illustrating the temporal trend through connected data points.

MUF0051 ICT Unit 1 - Semester 2, 2025 2.18 Quiz: Types of graphs

The following data has been collected: [table] Year | Total Sales 2016 | 25623 2017 | 27880 2018 | 30210 [/table] Which graph type would be the most suitable to show the Total Sales over time?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

回顾一下住房数据集。哪个图最适合可视化像“房屋状况”这样取值范围为 1 到 5 的有序变量的配置？

When reporting descriptive findings to a client, it's important to:

位置21的问题 In most cases, a graphical display is more useful than a table for recognizing patterns and 题库 1/1[input].

Blank ______ present the results of data analysis, displaying the patterns, relationships, and trends in a graphical format.

A data point is an Blank ______ item on a graph or a chart.

What is the major problem with a secondary y-axis?

One of the key differences between a bar chart and histogram is:

More Practical Tools for International Students

Exam Browser Assistant

Stylized Writing Assistant

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation Assistant

In-Class Translation Assistant

Class Notes Assistant

Quiz Search Assistant

Past Exam Questions by School

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler