Visualizing Numbers

Many people find it difficult to read a bunch of numbers and immediately understand exactly what they mean. This is why there has been a gravitation towards showing data through visual means, such as charts and graphs. These visual representations of data make it much easier for people to comprehend what the numbers are saying, which allow for more effective prescriptive or reflexive analysis. Since most people are visual learners anyways, these methods of portraying data are becoming more and more common. Although there are many different ways to visually present data, the most common is through a graph of some sort. There are many different kinds of graphs that each serve different functions and communicate slightly different messages. The three most common kinds of graphs are the pie chart, histogram, and line graph.

The Pie Chart

The pie chart is one of the most useful illustrations of data because it shows the proportions of data and how they relate to the whole. Often using different colors to represent each data set, the pie chart makes it easy for viewers to identify the different slices of pie for each set. The major strength of this chart and why it is used so often is that it efficiently illustrates proportion of data, and where they stand in relation to the whole.

Although this type of graph is among the most popular, it is not perfect. This graph is only useful when there is not a large amount of different data sets. If there are too many data sets, the slices of pie get too small and viewers cannot easily distinguish between sizes. This defeats the purpose of the illustration.

The Histogram

Also known as the bar chart or bar graph, the histogram is informative because it provides the viewer with a side-by-side comparison of the various data sets, making obvious where they stand in relation to another. These graphs can be utilized with any number of data sets. Unlike the pie chart, a histogram does not become obsolete when there are many data sets.

The beauty of bar graphs is found in their simplicity. After all, the whole point of these illustrations is to make it easier for people to read numbers, not more complicated. These graphs are also extremely versatile. Because they are only composed of two the two axis, they can be labeled in almost any way. The strength of this kind of graph is that that it most effectively illustrates quantities of data, and where they stand in relation to each other.

The Line Graph

The line graph differs from the previously discussed graphs because it takes into account how data reacts over time. Most line graphs are used to show how a particular set of data evolves over a certain time period. This is helpful for the viewer because they can see whether things are trending in a positive or negative direction.

A weakness of this graph is that it typically only accounts for one set of data at a time. However, it is possible to overlay multiple line graphs to show how multiple sets of data relate to each other over time, but this is typically only used for 2–3 sets data. If there are more, then the lines become harder to distinguish with each other, especially if they are close in value.

In conclusion, these various graphs are used like a translator for the language of numbers. Some people can read numbers very well, but most people find it difficult. The three graphs make it easier for people to read data by showing how the numbers relate to the whole (pie chart), how they relate to each other (histogram), and how they relate to time (line graph). Using visuals, these illustrations that I have discussed have become the most common means to translate numbers into everyday language.