PIE GRAPH

Preparedby:

SHALIN J PATEL
STD 7TH C
S.G.PATELPRIMARYENGLISHMEDIUMSCHOOL
 Understanding PIECHARTS
• Pie charts are perhaps the most
ubiquitous chart type; they can be
found in newspapers, business reports,
and many
other places. But few people actually
understand the function of the pie
chart and how to use it
issues stemming
properly. In additionfrom
to using too many
categories, the biggest problem
is getting the basic
up to that athe pie
premise: meaningful
slices sum whole.
 Howto ReadPieCharts?

• There are two features that let us read the

values on a pie chart:
-the angle a slice covers (compared to the
full circle)
-the area of a slice
(compared to the entire
disk).
 Howto ReadPieCharts?
• Research suggests that we look at the
angle in the center, essentially reducing
the chart to just the crossing lines there.
We are not very good at measuring
angles, but we recognize
90 and 180 degree angles with very high
precision. Slices that cover half or a
quarter of the circle will therefore stand
out. Others can be compared with some
success, but reading actual numbers from
a pie chart is next to impossible.
 Whento UsePieCharts?
“There are some simple criteria that you can use
to determine whether a pie chart is the right
choice for your data.”

•Do the parts make up a meaningful whole?

If not, use a different chart. Only use a pie chart if you can define the
entire set in a way that makes sense to the viewer.

•Are the parts mutually exclusive?

If there is overlap between the parts, use a different chart.
 Whento UsePieCharts?
• Do you want to compare the parts to each other or
the parts to the whole?
If the main purpose is to compare between the parts, use a different
chart. The main purpose of the pie chart is to show part-whole
relationships.

• How many parts do you have?

If there are more than five to seven, use a different chart. Pie charts
with lots of slices (or slices of very different size) are hard to read.

• In all other cases, do not use a pie chart. The pie chart is the wrong
chart type to use as a default; the bar chart is a much better choice
for that. Using a pie chart requires a lot more thought, care, and
awareness of its limitations than most other charts.