Which graph is best for comparing categorical data?

• A. Histogram
• B. Bar graph
• C. Line graph
• D. Circle graph

Answer: (B)

For comparing categories, a bar graph is best because it shows each category as a separate bar with height proportional to its value, allowing you to see at a glance which categories are larger or smaller. You can place categories along the horizontal axis and the numbers on the vertical axis, making direct, precise comparisons easy. Histograms group numerical data into ranges and aren’t for distinct categories. Line graphs emphasize changes over time or another continuous variable, not side-by-side category differences. Circle charts display parts of a whole and can become hard to read with many categories or when precise comparisons are needed. So the bar graph provides the clearest, most straightforward way to compare categorical data.