Tables, Charts, and Graphs-DI

Tables, Charts, and Graphs (Data Interpretation)

Graphs and charts show the relationship of numbers and quantities in visual form. By looking at a graph, you can see at a glance the relationship between two or more sets of information. If such information were presented in written form, it would be hard to read and understand.

Here are some things to remember when doing problems based on data interpretation:

1. Take your time and read carefully. Understand what you are being asked to do before you begin figuring.


2. Check the dates and types of information required. Be sure that you are looking in the proper columns, and on the proper lines, for the information you need.


3. Check the units required. Be sure that your answer is in thousands, millions, or whatever the question calls for.


4. In computing averages, be sure that you add the figures you need and no others, and that you divide by the correct number of years or other units.


5. Be careful in computing problems asking for percentages.

a. Remember that to convert a decimal into a percent you must multiply it by 100. For example, 0.04 is 4%.

b. Be sure that you can distinguish between such quantities as 1% (1 percent) and .01% (one one-hundredth of 1 percent), whether in numerals or in words.

c. Remember that if quantity X is greater than quantity Y, and the question asks what percent quantity X is of quantity Y, the answer must be greater than 100 percent.



WHAT DO WE UNDERSTAND BY DATA?

Data refers to facts or numbers, collected for examination, consideration and useful for decision-making. It is in raw form i.e. it is in a scattered form. Information refers to data being arranged and presented in a systematic or an organize form, so that some useful inferences can be drawn from the same. By data we generally mean quantities, figures, statistics, relating to any event.

WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY DATA INTERPRETATION?

As the name implies, Data Interpretation is extraction of maximum information, as required by us from the given set of data or information. In other words the act of organizing and interpreting data to get meaningful information is known as Data Interpretation. The representation of data can be broadly classified as tables and graph.

TABLES: Any statistical data pertaining to a situation can be represented by tables. Tables are the easiest and most convenient form of data representation if the data is reasonably limited.

(1) Tables present data logically.
(2) Tables give a bird’s eye-view of the data in a concise and a compact manner thereby saving time and space.
(3) The columns and the rows that constitute any table facilitate data comparison.
(4) Tables facilitate also analysis and informed decision-making, a la any other data representation type.

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