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

• A. A Pareto chart uses horizontal bars, while a standard vertical bar graph uses vertical bars.
• B. A Pareto chart is only used for numerical data, while a standard vertical bar graph is used for categorical data.
• C. A Pareto chart displays bars in descending order of frequency, while a standard vertical bar graph may display bars in any order.
• D. A Pareto chart does not include any labels, while a standard vertical bar graph always includes labels.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that both Pareto charts and standard vertical bar graphs are used to display categorical data using bars.
2. Recognize that a standard vertical bar graph typically displays bars in any order, often the order categories are given or alphabetical.
3. Learn 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. Note that Pareto charts often include a cumulative percentage line to show the cumulative impact of the categories, which is not a feature of standard bar graphs.
5. Conclude that the key difference is the ordering of bars: Pareto charts order bars from highest to lowest frequency, while standard bar graphs do not require this ordering.