Which type of graph is least appropriate for showing parts that add up to a whole?

Which type of graph is least appropriate for showing parts that add up to a whole?

• A. Pie chart
• B. Bar chart
• C. Stacked bar chart
• D. Line graph

Answer: (D)

Line graphs are used to show how a value changes over time or across an ordered sequence, focusing on trends rather than what parts contribute to a total. Because there isn’t a fixed overall sum that the parts must add up to, a line graph doesn’t clearly convey the idea of parts that combine to a whole. Pie charts and stacked bar charts are designed to display portions that fit together into one total, and even a regular bar chart can compare segments within a common context. So for showing parts that add up to a whole, the line graph is the least suitable choice.

Line graphs are used to show how a value changes over time or across an ordered sequence, focusing on trends rather than what parts contribute to a total. Because there isn’t a fixed overall sum that the parts must add up to, a line graph doesn’t clearly convey the idea of parts that combine to a whole. Pie charts and stacked bar charts are designed to display portions that fit together into one total, and even a regular bar chart can compare segments within a common context. So for showing parts that add up to a whole, the line graph is the least suitable choice.