2. About charts and graphs

What is the difference between a chart and a graph?

How can we use charts and graphs?

How can we be tested using charts and graphs?

Charts and graphs are a means of displaying information in a way that's easy to digest.

Through lines, bars or other visual representations, both charts and graphs illustrate relationships between sets of data so that anyone can understand them.

Even though charts and graphs are often used in the same sentence to explain the illustration of data, technically speaking, the terms are not interchangeable because they illustrate relationships between data in different ways.

Graphs, especially line graphs, are best for illustrating a trend over time. They are much better at showing trends for a single set of data than charts are.

Charts are useful for displaying patterns or information about frequency. The bars on a chart are higher or longer depending on the value they represent.

Charts and graphs picture

Image by Stackoverflow in Stackoverflow . License

Sources: Labbe, M. (n.d.). The Difference Between Charts & Graphs. Retrieved May 27, 2016, from http://www.ehow.com/list_7385398_difference-between-charts-graphs.html

and What is the difference between a chart and a graph? (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2016, from http://www.ask.com/math/difference-between-chart-graph-8775a512630cf520

In Lesson 1, section 4, you were introduced to your first graph and some language describing trends. A trend, or pattern of change, can help you make a projection which is a prediction of how the data will change in the future based on the patterns of change in the past and the present.

Describing trends and movements requires a specific vocabulary as well as certain structures and tenses.

Click here to view an infograph on the different types of of charts and graphs.

Image by Thewizardplusplus in Openclipart under Share

Now, let's have a look at some of the structures we may use when describing charts and graphs.
Nouns	Verbs	Prepositions
an increase a rise a growth a decrease a fall a decline a drop a fluctuation a spike a plunge	increase rise grow decrease fall decline drop fluctuate spike plunge soar	to rise from $1m to $3m to increase (by) 75% an increase of 100% to fall from $2m to $1m to decrease (by) 50% a decrease of 50% A rise in sales, A fall in profits, ... Sales are at last year’s level. The price is at €1.5 per litre.
Intensifying Adjectives and adverbs
to rise suddenly/ a sudden rise in to drop sharply / a sharp drop in fall slightly / a slight fall in to decrease moderately/ a moderate decrease in ...

Actividad

Have you ever wondered whether "data" goes with a singular or a plural verb? Follow the link to find out:

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/jul/16/data-plural-singular