A bar graph, also known as a bar chart, is a graphical representation of data using rectangular bars of different heights or lengths that are proportional to the values they represent. The bars can be plotted vertically or horizontally, and they are used to compare and contrast different types of data. Bar graphs provide a visual presentation of categorical data, which is a grouping of data into discrete groups, such as months of the year, age group, shoe sizes, and animals. In a vertical bar chart, categories appear along the horizontal axis, and the height of the bar corresponds to the value of each category. Bar charts have a discrete domain of categories and are usually scaled so that all the data can fit on the chart. When there is no natural ordering of the categories being compared, bars on the chart may be arranged in any order. Bar graphs can be grouped or stacked to compare more complex data.
Some properties of bar graphs include:
- The gap between one bar and another should be uniform throughout.
- Bars can represent one or more labeled variables.
- Bars can also be grouped together for comparative purposes.
Bar graphs are commonly used in business and financial analysis to display often complicated data, as they can convey information quickly and effectively. They are also used in many real-life situations, such as showing the distribution of different types of fruits or the grades of students in a recent test.
