Presenting Data

Charts and graphs

Bikes sold from 20/8/05 until 27/8/05

Name Color Price Gears

Ranger Silver $140 5

Outdoor Red $195 10

Tourer Blue $189 15

Starburst Silver $215 15

Mountain White $129 5

Data can be organized with a table

What is the coldest month?

What is the warmest month?

What is the average temperature in July?

What month has an average temperature of 1?

Every good table should have

• A title

• labeled rows and/or columns

Although tables are good, charts and

graphs are easier to understand.

Strengths/weakness of tables

• It is easier to find information

• It is easier to find patterns after the information is organized

• It is not easy to see big/small data

• Lots of data can still overwhelm the reader with numbers

Pictographs

A pictograph is a symbol that represents

an object or a concept.

What is the meaning of these pictographs?

A pictograph is also a type of chart.

It uses symbols instead of numbers.

Pictographs can show lots of information

A good pictograph has

• a title

• pictures that “make sense”

• pictures that are the same size

• pictures that are lined up

• a scale (key)

• labeled axes

What’s wrong with the pictographs?

What’s wrong with this pictograph?!?

What’s wrong with this pictograph?

Purchasing power of the Canadian dollar 1980-2000

Strengths/weaknesses of pictographs

• It’s easier to understand than just numbers

• You can quickly see important facts

• Pictographs are not accurate (fractional pictures)

• Pictures can distract you from the data

• Pictographs can be misleading (Canadian dollar)