Data Analysis and Visualization Basics

Questions and Answers

What can tables be used for in data analysis?

Organize and analyze related data

What does conditional formatting enable users to do?

Highlight certain values or make particular cells easy to identify

What does a column chart typically display along the horizontal axis?

What is the purpose of a line chart in data representation?

Plot data arranged in columns or rows Signup and view all the answers

What can users do with advanced chart features?

Enhance the reader's understanding Signup and view all the answers

Which type of chart is ideal for showing trends in data at equal intervals?

Line chart Signup and view all the answers

What type of chart is best for illustrating comparisons among individual items?

Bar chart Signup and view all the answers

Which chart type is effective for comparing proportions within a hierarchy?

Treemap chart Signup and view all the answers

What type of chart shows the distribution of data into quartiles and highlights mean and outliers?

Box and whisker chart Signup and view all the answers

Which type of chart is useful for understanding the effect of a series of positive and negative values as they are added or subtracted?

Waterfall chart Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Line charts: evenly distributed categories on horizontal axis, value data on vertical axis, ideal for showing trends in data at equal intervals
Pie and doughnut charts: data arranged in one column or row on a worksheet, show relationship of parts to a whole, pie charts only one data series, doughnut charts can contain multiple data series
Bar charts: data arranged in columns or rows on a worksheet, illustrate comparisons among individual items, organize categories vertically, values horizontally
Area charts: data arranged in columns or rows on a worksheet, show change over time and total value, sum of values and relationship of parts to a whole
Scatter/bubble charts: data arranged in columns and rows on a worksheet, show relationships between two sets of data, combine x and y values into single data points, bubble charts add third column for bubble size
Stock charts: data arranged in a specific order on a worksheet, show fluctuations in stock prices or other data, organize in High, Low, Close order
Surface charts: data arranged in columns or rows on a worksheet, find optimum combinations between two sets of data, colors and patterns indicate areas of same value range
Radar charts: data arranged in columns or rows on a worksheet, compare the aggregate values of several data series, each series plotted as a line from the origin to the data point
Treemap charts: hierarchical view of data, easy comparison of different levels of categorization, display categories by color and proximity, effective for comparing proportions within a hierarchy
Sunburst charts: ideal for displaying hierarchical data, each level represented by one ring, effective at showing how one ring is broken into its contributing pieces
Box and whisker charts: show distribution of data into quartiles, highlight mean and outliers, boxes have lines extending vertically called "whiskers" indicating variability
Waterfall charts: show a running total of financial data as values are added or subtracted, useful for understanding the effect of a series of positive and negative values, columns color coded
Funnel charts: show values across multiple stages in a process
Combo charts: combine two or more chart types, make data easy to understand, especially when data is widely varied, shown with a secondary axis
Map charts: compare values and show categories across geographical regions.