SS2 2.02 Understand charts and graphs used in business.
Purpose of Charts and Graphs
1. Charts and graphs are used in business to
communicate and clarify spreadsheet
information.
2. Charts and graphs emphasize and
categorize spreadsheet information into a
format that can be quickly and easily
analyzed.
3. Why might you use a chart to present
spreadsheet information?
A chart makes the information easier to
understand.
4. What does a chart or graph do that a spreadsheet
does not?
Creates a visual representation of the data.
Is it a Chart or a Graph?
A Graph is a feature of a
chart used to plot
data.
 A Graph is a pictorial
representation of
data.
 It includes the:
plot area
 gridlines
 and values.

 A graph is used in a
chart .
Is it a Chart or a Graph?
A Chart is the total
package that
includes:
titles
 values
 axis labels
 legend
information
 color
 and adds meaning to
the graph
A Chart is the total
package. It is an
enhancement of a
graph.

Whereas spreadsheet data
is often filled with
numbers, labels, and
values that require timeconsuming analysis. . . .
a chart emphasizes and
categories the
spreadsheet information
into a format that can be
quickly and easily
analyzed.
Examples of Uses for Charts in Business
 Represent sales trends within different
departments of a store
 Represent the contribution of individual
employee sales to the total sales for a
company
 Represent the percent of each expense to
total expenses
 Analyze stock prices and explain the
fluctuations to stockholders
6 Common types of charts
 Column Chart
 XY Scatter Chart
 Stacked Bar Chart
 Pie Chart
 Line Chart
 Exploded Pie Chart
Column Chart
 Description:
 Series of vertical
columns each
representative of a data
series
 Best Used For:
 Making comparisons
and generalizations
about groups of data,
such as the attendance
of each group of
upperclassmen at
assemblies
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 10
Column Chart Example
Seniors
Spirit Participation
Juniors
Sophomores
Attendance Rate
100
80
60
40
20
0
January
February
March
April
Month
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 11
Stacked Bar
 Description:
 Series of horizontal or
vertical bars that are
each divided into two or
more parts
 Each bar represents the
contributions of one
data group to the whole
 Best Used For:
 Comparing the
contribution of
individual items to the
whole, such as the
contribution of each
department’s sales to
the total sales for a
quarter (3 months)
 Useful when you have
more than one data
series
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 12
Stacked Bar Example
8,000
3rd Quarter
7,000
15,755
3,500
25,000
Period
4th Quarter
3,500
2nd Quarter
8,000
5,000
1st Quarter
0
12,575
10,500
10,000
ABC
Computers
Quarterly
Report
Sales
Analysis
2,500
Printers
Computers
Monitors
3,300
20,000
30,000
40,000
Sales (in Thousands)
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 13
Line Chart
 Description
 Series of data points
connected by horizontal
lines, each representing
a series of data
 Best Used for:
 Comparing trends, such
as the trends in sales of
three departments in a
store, over a period of
time
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 14
Line Chart Example
Sales Trends by Department
Sales (in Thousands)
60,000
50,000
40,000
Music
30,000
Shoes
Clothing
20,000
10,000
0
1st Quarter
2nd
Quarter
3rd Quarter 4th Quarter
Period
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 15
XY Scatter
 Description:
 Series of data points
connected by horizontal
lines, each representing
a series of data
 Best Used For:
 Analyzing statistical or
scientific data, such as
determine a correlation
between stressors and
pulse rate; the effect of
one on the other
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 16
XY Scatter Example
Stress Analysis
140
Pulse Rate
120
100
80
Principal's
Office
60
Doctor's
Office
40
20
0
0
5
10
15
Wait Time (in Minutes)
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 17
Pie Chart
 Description:
 Represents only one data
series
 Best Used For:
 Indicating the relationship
of one component or data
element to the whole,
such as the percentage of
sales contributions of
printers, PDAs, and
desktops to the total sales
for one time period (one
month, one quarter or
year)
 Can only be used with one
data series
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 18
Pie Chart Example
Financial Budget
East Region
13%
13%
Printers
17%
PDAs
Desktops
57%
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Laptops
Slide 19
Exploded Pie
 Description:
 An enhanced version of
the pie chart
 Best Used For:
 Emphasizing one or
more portions of data
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 20
Exploded Pie Example
Music Sales by Genre
16%
27%
Classical
Country
24%
Rock
Hip Hop
33%
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 21
Components of Graphs
1. Y-axis
5. Gridline
2. X-axis
6. Plot area
3. Data markers
7. Tick mark
4. Data series
Y-axis
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Y- axis is
the left vertical
side of the
graph.
 It contains the
numerical
data.
Y-axis
 The
X-axis
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Y-axis
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X-axis
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X- axis is
the bottom
horizontal
side of the
graph.
 It contains the
category
information.
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 The
Data Markers
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X-axis
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Remember:
Data Markers
must represent
values!
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
Y-axis
Markers
are used in a
graph to indicate
data values.
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 Data
Data Marker
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60
50
40
30
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10
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Data Series
A Data Series is a
collection of
related values,
such as one row
or one column
from a
spreadsheet.
Data Series
Gridline
A Gridline is a
horizontal or
vertical line that
extends across the
plot area of the
graph for the
purpose of adding
clarification to the
data.
 Gridlines make it
easier to read and
understand the values.
Gridlines
Example
Scenario: This Stacked Bar Chart shows the Total Sales of
each employee over a 4-month period.
Question: What would make it easier to read?
Answer: Gridlines
Gridlines would make it much easier to read and understand
the values.
(Notice—there are NO gridlines in this chart!)
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Plot Area
Plot Area
The Plot Area is
the background
portion of a graph.
It is the rectangular
area bound by
the category (X)
and values (Y)
axes.
(the gray area shown
in this graph)
Tick Mark
The Tick Mark is
used in a graph
to clarify the
data categories
or values.
Tick
Marks
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 31
Components of Charts
8. Legend
10. Chart Title
9. Data Label
11. X-Axis Title
12. Y-Axis Title
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 32
Legend
Legend
The Legend is
an object
that explains
the symbols,
colors, or
patterns
used to
differentiate
the data.
4.02 Understand charts/graphs used in business
Slide 33
Data Label
A Data Label is a
single value or
text explanation
used to explain the
data in a series.
 It is a piece of
data from the
data series.
Data
Labels
Example
Scenario: This Column Chart compares the sales of the
GY Music Store against the sales of Notes Online.
Question: Which feature is used to indicate the
sales amounts in the plot area?
Answer: Data Labels
Data Labels are used to
explain the data in the
series.
Slide 35
Chart Title
The Chart Title
is the main
heading,
which
describes the
purpose and
content of the
chart.
Chart Title
Example
Scenario: This Line Chart represents the effect of irrigation on
plant height.
Question: What feature should be added to explain
the chart’s purpose?
Answer: Chart Title
The Chart Title is the
Main Heading that
describes the purpose
and content of the chart.
Axis Titles
The Y-axis Title:
describes the
Y-axis, which is
the vertical
data.
The X-axis Title
describes the
X-axis, which is
the horizontal
data.
Axis Titles
Now it’s your turn!
See if you can
identify all of the
components and
describe their
functions.
2.
1.
5.
3.
4.
7.
6.
10.
8.
9.
How did you do?
2.
1.
1. Data Series
2. Chart Title
5.
3.
3. Y-axis Labels
4.
4. Data Labels
5. Plot Area
6. Gridline
11.
7.
7. Legend
8. X-axis Labels
6.
9. X-axis Title
10. Tick Marks
11. Y-axis Label
10.
8.
9.
Embedded and Separate Chart
1. An Embedded chart is one that appears on
the same sheet as the
spreadsheet/worksheet it represents.
2. A Separate chart is one that does not
appear on the same sheet as the
spreadsheet/worksheet it represents.
Linked Chart
3. A Linked chart is one that will change to
reflect changes made to the spreadsheet it
represents.