16 Graphs and charts (3)
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Information Communication Technology ICT
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1.
You are creating a line graph to show the temperature changes over a 24-hour period. The graph currently uses a single solid colour for the line. Describe two different ways you could enhance the appearance of the line graph, including details about the colour scheme or fill patterns you would use. Explain why each enhancement would be beneficial to the clarity and understanding of the graph.
- Use a Colour Gradient: Apply a colour gradient to the line, transitioning from a cooler colour (e.g., blue or green) to a warmer colour (e.g., orange or red). This can visually represent the temperature change over time, making it easier to understand whether the temperature is rising or falling. A gradual colour change provides a clear visual cue.
- Add a Fill Pattern to the Line: Instead of a solid line, use a subtle fill pattern (e.g., dashed line, dotted line) to give the line more visual weight and make it easier to follow, especially if there are multiple lines on the graph. This can improve readability, particularly if the line is overlaid on a busy background.
2.
A company is tracking its monthly sales figures for the past year. The data is as follows:
| Month | Sales (£) |
| January | 1200 |
| February | 1500 |
| March | 1800 |
| April | 1400 |
| May | 1600 |
| June | 1700 |
What type of graph would be best to show the trend in sales over the year? Explain your choice.
A line graph would be the most suitable graph type.
Reasoning: Line graphs are specifically designed to show trends and changes over time. The x-axis would represent the months, and the y-axis would represent the sales figures. Plotting the sales for each month and connecting the points with a line clearly illustrates how sales are increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable throughout the year. This makes it easy to identify patterns and trends.
3.
A spreadsheet contains a column of numerical values representing prices in pounds (£). You need to format these values to display the currency symbol (£) followed by two decimal places. Describe the steps you would take using a spreadsheet program (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets) to achieve this formatting.
To format numerical values to display the currency symbol (£) followed by two decimal places in a spreadsheet program, you would typically follow these steps:
- Select the cells containing the numerical values that need to be formatted.
- Access the Format Cells dialog box: This can usually be done by right-clicking on the selected cells and choosing "Format Cells..." from the context menu, or by going to the "Format" menu and selecting "Number..." (or a similar option depending on the spreadsheet program).
- Select the "Currency" category: In the Format Cells dialog box, navigate to the "Number" tab and then select the "Currency" category.
- Choose the desired currency symbol: Select the appropriate currency symbol (e.g., £ for British Pounds) from the available options.
- Specify the number of decimal places: In the "Decimal places" field, enter '2' to ensure the values are displayed with two decimal places.
- Click "OK": Click the "OK" button to apply the formatting to the selected cells.
The spreadsheet program will automatically apply the currency formatting to the selected cells, displaying the values with the currency symbol and two decimal places.