Pie chart

Definition

A pie chart is a circular statistical graphic divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportions. Each slice's arc length, and consequently its central angle and area, is proportional to the quantity it represents.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Pie charts are best used for categorical data with a limited number of categories.
2. The sum of all slices in a pie chart always equals 100% or the whole dataset.
3. Pie charts are less effective for displaying data with many categories or small differences between them.
4. Each slice in a pie chart can be labeled with the category name and percentage value it represents.
5. Pie charts can be difficult to interpret accurately if the slices are too numerous or similar in size.

Review Questions

• What type of data is best represented by a pie chart?
• Why might a pie chart be less effective when dealing with many categories?
• How is each slice in a pie chart typically labeled?

Related terms

Bar Chart: A graphical representation of data using rectangular bars where the length of each bar is proportional to the value it represents.

Histogram:

A type of bar chart that represents the frequency distribution of numerical data, where each bar groups numbers into ranges.

Categorical Data: Data that can be divided into specific groups or categories which do not have a natural order.