Types of Graphs and Charts

There are many types of graphs and charts that are commonly used for showing business reports. These are listed as follows.

1. Line graphs: A line graph is a way of representing two pieces of information, which is usually related and vary with respect to each other. This is useful when comparisons are needed. e.g. 
            
       
              
2. Pie Charts: A pie chart is a type of a circle graph normally used in showcasing a wholesome quantity; we have to show that how this whole quantity is broken into parts. The whole quantity depicts entire sample space and the pieces of pie in the circle graph are called sectors.
         
   
           
3. Bar Charts: This is a type of chart, which contains labeled horizontal or vertical bars showing a piece of information and an axis. The numbers along the side of bar graph compose the axis. This is also called as a histogram; Bar Graph is useful when there is a numerical comparison.
          
   
         
4. Area Graphs: These graphs are used to show how something changes with respect to time. An area graph shows the contribution of each data series in the form of a picture.
         
   
         
5. Waterfall Chart: This is a type of chart, which shows an increase or decrease in a initial value. This contains floating vertical columns that shows the increase or decrease in a initial value through a series of intermediate steps leading to a final value. An invisible column keeps the increase or decrease related to the heights of the previous columns.
       
   
   
6. Polar Chart: A Polar Chart is a circular chart in which data is displayed in terms of values and angles.
• This provides a mechanism to compare various qualitative and quantitative aspects of a situation graphically.
• By using Polar Charts we can plot multiple data sets each with a single line with as many points as needed.
• These are normally used in Engineering and modeling Industries.
• A Polar Chart has two variables X and Y where X is plotted as an angle and Y is the radius.
• In a Polar Chart the points are plotted in Polar coordinates rather than Cartesian coordinates.
• In a Polar Chart the dataset having the maximum values covers the maximum area in the whole graph.
• The X and Y-axes can be used to demonstrate real world quantities.