Which of the following best describes the difference between a bar graph and a Pareto chart when visualizing qualitative data?

• A. A bar graph always includes a cumulative line, while a Pareto chart never does.
• B. A bar graph uses circular bars, while a Pareto chart uses rectangular bars.
• C. A bar graph displays categories with bars of any order, while a Pareto chart arranges the bars in descending order of frequency.
• D. A bar graph is used for quantitative data, while a Pareto chart is only used for time series data.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that both bar graphs and Pareto charts are used to visualize qualitative (categorical) data by representing categories with bars.
2. Recognize that a bar graph displays the categories with bars that can be arranged in any order, often the order in which data is collected or presented.
3. Know that a Pareto chart is a special type of bar graph where the bars are arranged in descending order of frequency or count, highlighting the most significant categories first.
4. Recall that a Pareto chart often includes a cumulative percentage line to show the cumulative impact of the categories, but this is not a defining difference in this question.
5. Conclude that the key difference is the ordering of the bars: bar graphs have no specific order, while Pareto charts order bars from highest to lowest frequency.