Bar Graph in Maths: A bar chart displays categorical data using rectangular bars whose heights or lengths correspond to the values they represent. These bars can be arranged vertically or horizontally. When plotted vertically, the bar chart is often referred to as a column chart.
A bar graph is a visual representation of data using rectangular bars. The bars can be vertical or horizontal, and their lengths are proportional to the data they represent. Bar graphs are also known as bar charts or bar diagrams. Bar graphs can compare items or show how something changes over time.
Let’s learn how to make bar graphs in maths, types of bar graph, and practical uses.
Table of Content
- What is Bar graph?
- Bar Graph Definition
- What Constitutes a Bar Graph?
- Properties of Bar Graph
- Parts of a Bar Graph
- Types of Bar Graphs
- Vertical Bar Graph
- Horizontal Bar Graph
- Grouped Bar Graph
- How to Draw a Bar Graph?
- Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Bar Graphs
- Bar Graph vs Other Graphs
- Difference between Bar Graph and Histogram
- Difference between Bar Graph and Line Graph
- Difference between Bar Graph and Pie Chart
- Uses of Bar Graph / Applications of Bar Graphs in Real-Life
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Bar Chart
- Advantages of Bar Graph
- Disadvantages of Bar Graph
- Bar Graph Examples
- Bar Graph Questions
What is Bar graph?
A bar graph, also known as a bar chart, is a graphical display of data using bars of different heights or lengths. It is used to compare quantities across different categories. Each bar represents a category of data, and the size of the bar represents the value or frequency of the category it corresponds to. Bar graphs can be drawn horizontally or vertically.
Bar Graph Definition
Bar graph is a visual representation of data in statistics that uses bars to compare different categories or groups. Each bar in a bar graph represents a category or group, and the length or height of the bar corresponds to the value or frequency of that category.
What Constitutes a Bar Graph?
Key elements of a bar graph include:
- Axes: Most bar graphs have two axes. The x-axis typically lists the categories being compared, and the y-axis represents the measured values.
- Bars: Each bar’s length or height varies according to the data it represents.
- Labels: Categories and values are labeled to make the data easy to understand.
- Title: The title of the bar graph provides an overview of what the data represents.
It is also called a bar chart. Bar graphs are represented in vertical or horizontal rectangular bars, where the bars’ length represents the data’s growth.
A Bar Graph makes data look tidy and easy to understand. It also makes it simple to compare different pieces of information.
Properties of Bar Graph
Key properties of Bar Graph are mentioned below:
- Every bar graph has a uniform width which is used to analyze data according to different points.
- It can be either horizontal or vertical.
- Every bar graph has two axes, one for the Graph and the other for the quantity of the data.
- The graph shows the comparison of data over a particular time.
Parts of a Bar Graph
The main parts of a bar graph include:
- Title: Describes the purpose or subject of the graph.
- X-axis (horizontal axis): Represents the categories or groups being compared.
- Y-axis (vertical axis): Displays the values or quantities corresponding to each category.
- Bars: Vertical or horizontal rectangles representing the data values for each category.
- Data labels: Numerical values attached to the bars to show the exact measurement.
- Legend: Explains the meaning of different colours or patterns if multiple data sets are presented.
- Scale: The units or intervals used on the axes to measure and represent the data accurately.
Types of Bar Graphs
The different types of bar graph are:
- Vertical Bar Graph
- Horizontal Bar Graph
- Grouped Bar Graph
Vertical Bar Graph
Vertical bar graph is a type of data visualisation technique used to represent data using vertical bars or columns. It is also known as a vertical bar chart.
Vertical Bar Graphs are the most common bar graph we come across. The bars of grouped data in vertical bar graphs lie vertically.
When dealing with long category names, it’s easier to use Horizontal Bar Graphs. In Vertical Bar Graphs, the x-axis space is limited, making it challenging to display lengthy category names.
Illustration of Vertical Bar Graph
Horizontal Bar Graph
Horizontal bar graphs are the graphs that have their rectangular bars lying horizontally. This means that the frequency of the data lie on the x-axis while the categories of the data lie on the y-axis.
Choose Horizontal Bar Graphs when dealing with long category names, as they work better when there isn’t enough space on the x-axis.
Horizontal Bar Graph Illustration
Grouped Bar Graph
Grouped bar graphs are the bar charts in which multiple sets of data items are compared, with a single colour used to denote a specific series across all sets. It is also called the clustered bar graph.
A grouped bar graph compares different sets of data items. It uses a single colour to represent each series within the set.
- The grouped bar graph is used to represent the discrete value for more than one object that shares the same category. As with basic Bar charts, both vertical and horizontal versions of grouped bar charts are available.
- The grouped bar graph can be represented using both vertical and horizontal bar charts.
Here is a diagram illustrating Grouped Bar Graph.
Illustration of Grouped Bar Graph
How to Draw a Bar Graph?
Let’s understand drawing a bar graph with an example of 5 students (A, B, C, D, E) and their weights: 45, 35, 25, 38, 40. We will have to follow a sequence of steps.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Bar Graphs
Here is a stepwise-process of creating bar graphs.
Step 1: First decide the title of the Bar Graph.
Step 2: Draw the x-axis(horizontal) and y-axis(vertical) and plot a graph using two axes.
Step 3: Now, Give name to X-axis and Y-axis and label both the axes.
Step 4: then just draw rectangular bars respectively according to their weight.
Step 5: Finally, draw the bar graph which represents the weight of the five students.
Bar Graph vs Other Graphs
We are going to discuss the comparison of Bar Graph with these others Graphs :
- Bar Graph Vs Histogram
- Bar Graph Vs Line Graph
- Bar Graph Vs Pie Chart
Difference between Bar Graph and Histogram
These are the key difference between Bar Graph and Histogram tabulated below:
| Feature | Bar Graph | Histogram |
|---|---|---|
| Data Type | Discrete data types | Continuous data types |
| Bar Width | Bars are of equal width | Bars can have unequal width |
| Spacing Between Bars | There is spacing between bars | Bars are adjacent with no spacing |
| Data Representation | Represents categories or groups | Represents frequency distribution of data |
| Use Case Example | Used for students in different classes | Used for students’ ages within the same class |
| Purpose | To compare different categories or groups | To show the distribution of a continuous variable |
Read in Detail: Difference Between Bar Graph and Histogram
Difference between Bar Graph and Line Graph
Here’s a table summarising the difference between Line Graphs and Bar Graphs:
| Feature | Line Graph | Bar Graph |
|---|---|---|
| Graphical Representation | Plotted using a single line connecting points | Plotted using rectangular bars |
| Data Connection | Points are connected in a series | Each bar stands alone |
| Growth Representation | Shown through the rise and fall of the line | Indicated by the height or length of the bars |
| Data Type | Best for continuous data | Suitable for both discrete and continuous data |
| Visual Emphasis | Emphasizes trends and changes over time | Highlights comparisons between categories |
| Use Case Example | Used for showing stock price changes over time | Used for comparing sales figures of different products |
Difference between Bar Graph and Pie Chart
Bar graph displays data using rectangular bars to represent the value of different categories, while a pie chart represents data as slices of a circle.
Here’s a table summarising the key difference between a bar graph and a pie chart.
| Aspect | Bar Graph | Pie Chart |
|---|---|---|
| Representation | Rectangular bars | Circle divided into sections |
| Data Comparison | Used to compare values among different items | Used to show the composition of a whole |
| Width and Height of Items | Rectangular bars have the same width and height | Sections in a pie chart have varying widths and heights |
| Data Types | Typically used for discrete data | Typically used for categorical or percentage data |
| Scale | Can represent both positive and negative values | Typically represents positive values |
| Axes | Typically has two axes (horizontal and vertical) for labelling and scaling | No axes; labels are placed within or outside the pie slices |
| Data Labels | Labels are usually placed above or within the bars | Labels are placed next to or inside each pie slice |
| Example | Bar graph showing sales of different products | Pie chart showing the distribution of expenses |
Uses of Bar Graph / Applications of Bar Graphs in Real-Life
Some of the most important applications of Bar Graph are:
- In education, they help students visualize and understand numerical data.
- Bar graphs are handy for businesses. They help with financial analysis, market research, and presenting data like quarterly sales, customer demographics, or product comparisons.
- In science, bar graphs are used to display and compare data from experiments or research studies.
- They effectively present survey results, including responses to different questions or options.
- They are used to display performance metrics in various fields, including sports, education, and business.
- Governments and organizations use bar graphs to report on data like population statistics, environmental data, etc.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Bar Chart
Advantages of Bar Graph
- It represents the data in a graphical form, which is easier to understand.
- It helps in analysing the data at a glance.
- It displays each information separately which is easier to understand.
- It summarize a large data set in visual from.
- It displays relative data or proportion.
Disadvantages of Bar Graph
- It is easier to manipulate data and show false data analysis.
- It requires additional explanation to describe the Graph.
Bar Graph Examples
To understand Bar graphs, let’s solve some example questions on Bar Graph.
Example 1: Plot a Bar Graph for the following scenario:
Students | Weights(in Kg) |
|---|---|
A | 40 |
B | 35 |
C | 28 |
D | 38 |
E | 37 |
Solution: The graph can be represented as follows:
Bar Graph Example
Example 2: Plot a Bar graph for the following data:
Cities | Population( in Millions) |
|---|---|
New Delhi | 35 |
Noida | 10 |
Mumbai | 25 |
Jaipur | 5 |
Gurgaon | 12 |
Solution: The Bar Graph for the above data is as follows:
.png "Bar Graph - Definition, Examples & How To Draw a Bar Graph (5)")
Bar Graph 2
Example 3: Plot the Bar Graph For the following Data:
| Fruits | Classes (No. of students) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | |
| Apple | 22 | 18 | 20 |
| Banana | 16 | 20 | 15 |
| Mango | 20 | 25 | 30 |
| Litchi | 24 | 30 | 15 |
Solution: The Grouped Bar Graph of the above data are as follows:
.png "Bar Graph - Definition, Examples & How To Draw a Bar Graph (6)")
Bar Graph 3
Example 4: In a School there are five sections in a class Who are interesting in cricket. 40 Students of section A , 35 Students of section B, 50 Students of section C, 30 Students of section D, 35 Students of section E are playing cricket. Plot the Bar Graph For the Above Data:
Solution: The Bar Graph of the above data are as follows:
Bar Graph 4
Important Maths Related Links:
- Curved Surface Area
- Differentiation Examples
- Inverse Trigonometry
- Venn Diagram Formula
- Area Of Regular Hexagon
- Area Of Hemisphere
- Step Deviation Method
- Coordinate Geometry For Class 10
- Introduction To Boolean Algebra
- Conversion Of Units
Bar Graph Questions
Here are some practice questions on Bar Graphs for you to solve on your own.
Q1: Make a Bar Graph for the following data.
Class | Number of Students |
|---|---|
VI | 40 |
VII | 45 |
VIII | 60 |
IX | 40 |
X | 40 |
Q2: Make a Bar Graph for the number of cars sold by different companies in 2021 and 2022
| Car Company | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Maruti | 20000 | 25000 |
| Tata | 15000 | 17000 |
| Volkswagen | 12000 | 13000 |
| Skoda | 18000 | 20000 |
| Honda | 16000 | 19000 |
Q3: Make the Bar Graph for the marks obtained by a student in different subjects.
Subject | Marks Obtained |
|---|---|
Maths | 95 |
Science | 88 |
English | 90 |
Hindi | 68 |
Social Science | 75 |
Articles related to Bar Graph: | |
|---|---|
Statistics Fundamentals | Types of Graphs |
Mean | Mode |
Median | Z Table |
Standard Deviation | Variance |
Summary – Bar Graph
A bar graph, or bar chart, is a visual tool used to display and compare data across different categories using rectangular bars. These bars can be oriented either vertically or horizontally, and their length or height represents the value of the data they display. This type of graph helps make data clear and straightforward, allowing for easy comparison of different information. There are several types of bar graphs: vertical (commonly used when space is limited), horizontal (ideal for long category names), and grouped (which shows multiple data sets side by side for direct comparison).
Key features of a bar graph include a title, axes with labels, and often a legend or scale to clarify the data. Creating a bar graph involves plotting the axes, labeling them, and then drawing the bars to reflect the data accurately. Bar graphs are preferred for their ability to neatly organize data, making it visually easy to interpret and compare various information points.
Bar Graph – FAQs
What is Bar Graph Definition?
Bar graph is the pictorial representation of the data present. It is a way to analyse the data in a pictorial format. Bar graphs are represented in Vertical or Horizontal rectangular bars, where the bars’ length represents the data’s growth.
What are the different types of Bar Graph?
There are three types of Bar Graph are :
- Horizontal Bar Graph
- Vertical Bar Graph
- Grouped Bar Graph
What is Simple Bar Graph?
Simple Bar Graph is the representation of single variable dataset in the form of bar graph. Let’s say there is a data of number of students in a school from class 1 to 10 then this is an example of single variable dataset as there is only one variable which is the number of students. Representing this type of dataset will result in simple bar graph.
What is Clustered Bar Graph?
A clustered bar graph is the one in which the bar representation of different dataset is placed in adjacent manner. Clustered Bar Graph is also called Grouped Bar Graph.
What is Multiple Bar Graph?
A multiple bar graph is one in which bar graph is drawn for multiple variables. Suppose we have production data of wheat, rice and sugarcane for years 2018-2023. Then in each year we have three variables wheat, rice and sugarcane. When we plot this data in the form of Bar Graph we will obtain a multiple bar graph.
How do you Draw a Bar Graph?
To draw a bar graph we have to take the data type on x-axis and scaling on y-axis and then draw the bar for each data type by extending the bar according to the given data and scaling adopted on y-axis. The detailed steps of drawing a bar graph is discussed in the article above.
What is Difference Between Bar Graph and Histogram?
A bar graph is plotted for discrete data set while a histogram is plotted for continuous data set. In bar graph, the width of the bars are same and also there is equal spacing between them. However in Histogram, the width of the bars are different due to their frequency and there is no spacing between them.
What is the importance of Bar Graph?
Bar graphs are important because they provide a clear and straightforward visual representation of data. Their simplicity in design helps in quick interpretation and analysis of trends, making them a valuable tool.
Why is it called a bar graph?
A bar graph is named after the bars that represent the data. The graph uses rectangular bars to visually display and compare different categories or groups of data.
How do I make a bar graph in Excel?
To create a bar graph in Excel, start by entering your data, select it, and then choose the bar graph option from the Insert menu. You can enhance the graph by adding data labels and other elements through the Chart Design tab.
What are the benefits of using horizontal bar graphs?
Horizontal bar graphs are particularly effective for displaying data where categories are text-heavy or extensive. They are easier to read and can be more visually appealing, especially on smaller screens or devices.
Can I use bar graphs to compare two sets of data?
Yes, bar graphs can compare two or more sets of data effectively. This can be done by stacking bars for each category or by placing bars side-by-side to directly compare different datasets.
What should I consider when designing a bar graph?
Ensure your bar graph is clear and accessible by using consistent color schemes and starting the y-axis at zero to accurately reflect the proportions of data. Horizontal labels can improve readability, and highlighting significant data points or changes can help convey the main insights more effectively.
When should I use a bar graph instead of other graph types?
Bar graphs are ideal for comparing quantities across different categories, showing changes over time (if the data points are few), or illustrating proportions. They work well when the dataset is not overly complex and when the categories are discrete rather than continuous.
raushanikuf9x7
Improve
Next Article
Bar Graph | Meaning, Types, and Examples
