Which of the following best describes how a Pareto chart differs from a standard vertical bar graph?

• A. A Pareto chart always includes a line graph showing the $\mathrm{mean}$, while a standard vertical bar graph does not.
• B. A Pareto chart uses horizontal bars, while a standard vertical bar graph uses vertical bars.
• C. A Pareto chart is only used for $\mathrm{continuous}$ data, while a standard vertical bar graph is used for $\mathrm{categorical}$ data.
• D. A Pareto chart displays bars in descending order of $\mathrm{frequency}$, while a standard vertical bar graph does not require any specific order.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand what a standard vertical bar graph represents: it displays categorical data with bars of heights proportional to the frequency or count of each category, but the order of the bars is not necessarily sorted.
2. Learn the key characteristic of a Pareto chart: it is a special type of bar graph where the bars are arranged in descending order of frequency or magnitude, emphasizing the most significant categories first.
3. Recognize that a Pareto chart often includes a cumulative line graph to show the running total percentage, but this is not the defining difference compared to a standard bar graph.
4. Note that the orientation of bars (vertical or horizontal) is not a defining feature that distinguishes Pareto charts from standard bar graphs, as both can be vertical or horizontal.
5. Conclude that the main difference is the ordering of the bars: a Pareto chart orders bars from highest to lowest frequency, while a standard vertical bar graph does not require any specific order.