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GRAPHS: pictograph, pie chart, line plot, map chart, bar graph, histogram, line graph, frequency polygon, stem & leaf plot, and scatterplot. NOTATION: graphs should always include a title, axis labels, and axis units. Some graphs require a key, and it is often helpful to indicate the date and the the total number represented. Make sure if you are compressing or skipping units on either axis that you use appropriate notation to show it. Give credit to the source of your data if appropriate. DISCRETE or CONTINUOUS DATA: Each graph is particularly designed to handle either discrete or continuous data. Discrete data is information that comes in separate categories, like Republican, Democrat, Independent, etc. Many surveys are designed to collect discrete data but indicating that the respondent should mark only ONE category. Quantities in discrete data usually come in whole numbers. They answer the question "how many?" Continuous
data is information that may come in whole or partial amounts.
Data such as height, weight, length, depth, time, temperature, and money can be measured
in full units or fractional units.
Graphs showing continuous data have axis label ranges chosen by
the statistician. They answer the question Advantages & disadvantages |