Question

Which of the following sets of data should not be displayed with a pie chart? Assume that only the given categories will be included. Select the correct answer below: a) the percentage of students on a school sports team and the percentage of students on an intramural sports team b) the percentage of adults with children and the percentage of adults without children the percentage of workers with college degrees and c) the percentage of workers without college degreesd) the percentage of students who work 20 or more hours per week and the percentage of students who work fewer than 20 hours per week

Answer 1

A pie chart is not usable if the given data has percentages that sum to greater than 100% or less than 100%. If an individual or class could be in each of the categories or neither of the categories, a pie chart will be insufficient.

Hence, considering the options

a) A student could be in the school sports team and the intramural sports team. Hence this set of data may not be displayed with a pie chart

b) An adult cannot have kids and also have kids. The distinction is clear here. So this set of data can be displayed with a pie chart

c) A worker either has a college degree or not. He cannot have a degree and not have a degree. Hence the distinction here too is clear and so this can be displayed with a pie chart

d) A student can either work for more than 20 hours a week or below 20 hours a week. This too can be displayed using a pie chart

The answer hence is option A. Only it cannot be displayed with a pie-chart because it overlaps. The distinctions are not clear. Students can be in both groups