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Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Use of Graphics and References for Business Communication

Types of Graphical Presentation: Charts, Graphs and Tables

Updated 10 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Graphical presentation shows business data as tables, line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, pictograms or flow charts. Each suits a purpose: tables for exact figures, line graphs for trends, bar charts for comparison, pie charts for shares of a whole, pictograms for simple appeal, flow charts for processes. Match the purpose to the format.

Understand Types of Graphical Presentation: Charts, Graphs and Tables

Raw numbers are hard to read. A graphic turns them into a picture so a reader grasps the message quickly. In business communication, graphics are used in reports, presentations and notices to make data clear and memorable.

The key skill is choosing the right format for the message. Ask one question: what do I want the reader to see? Exact values, a change over time, a comparison, a share of the total, or the steps of a process?

Table: data arranged in rows and columns. Use it when readers need exact figures. It shows precision but not patterns at a glance.

Line graph: points joined by a line, usually with time on the horizontal axis. Use it to show trends, rise and fall, such as monthly sales over a year.

Bar chart: bars of equal width with lengths proportional to values. Use it to compare separate items, such as sales of four branches. Bars can be vertical or horizontal.

Pie chart: a circle divided into slices, each slice showing a part's share of the total. Use it for composition, such as how a ₹1,00,000 budget is split. The parts must add up to a whole.

Pictogram: uses small pictures or symbols, each standing for a fixed quantity. It is eye-catching and suits general audiences, but it is less exact. Flow chart: boxes and arrows showing the steps or decisions of a process, such as how a purchase order is approved. It shows sequence, not numbers.

Key formulas to remember

Choosing the format
Exact figures → Table | Trend over time → Line graph | Comparison of items → Bar chart | Share of a whole → Pie chart | Simple visual appeal → Pictogram | Steps of a process → Flow chart
This match is the core rule most MCQs test.
Pie chart angle
Angle of a slice = (Part ÷ Total) × 360°
All slices add up to 360°. Example: 25% of the total = 90°.
Pictogram scale
Number of symbols = Value ÷ Value of one symbol
Always state the key, such as one symbol = 100 units.

How to solve Types of Graphical Presentation: Charts, Graphs and Tables questions

Use this method for any question asking which graphic suits a situation or what a graphic shows.

  1. 1Read the question and find the purpose: exact values, trend, comparison, share, or process.
  2. 2Check whether the data involves time. Time over months or years points to a line graph.
  3. 3Check whether the parts add up to a total. If yes and shares are asked, think pie chart.
  4. 4If the message is a sequence of steps or decisions, choose flow chart.
  5. 5If the audience is general and a simple symbol-based picture is wanted, choose pictogram.
  6. 6If exact figures matter most, choose table.
  7. 7Eliminate options that do not fit the purpose, then pick the best match.

Quickest way: Keyword matching

When to use it: For one-line MCQs on which graphic to use or what a graphic is.

  1. Spot the keyword: trend, compare, share or percentage, process or steps, symbols, exact figures.
  2. Map it: trend → line, compare → bar, share → pie, process → flow chart, symbols → pictogram, exact → table.
  3. Pick the option that matches and ignore the rest.

Common mistakes in Types of Graphical Presentation: Charts, Graphs and Tables

  • Using a pie chart to show change over time

    Pie charts look attractive and students use them for everything.

    Fix: Pie charts show parts of one total at one point. For change over time, use a line graph.

  • Confusing bar chart with histogram or line graph

    All three use axes and look alike.

    Fix: A bar chart compares separate categories with gaps between bars. A line graph joins points to show a trend.

  • Saying a pictogram gives exact values

    Students assume symbols carry precise numbers.

    Fix: Pictograms are approximate and need a key. Partial symbols give only rough values.

  • Thinking a flow chart shows numerical data

    The word chart suggests data.

    Fix: A flow chart shows the sequence of steps or decisions in a process, using boxes and arrows.

  • Choosing a graph when exact figures are needed

    Students believe visuals are always better.

    Fix: When readers must look up precise values, a table is the right choice.

Worked examples

Example 1

A company wants to show how its monthly sales moved from April to March over a year. Which graphic is most suitable? (a) Pie chart (b) Line graph (c) Flow chart (d) Pictogram

Show the solution
  1. Purpose: show movement over time.
  2. Data runs across twelve months, so time is involved.
  3. A line graph joins points over time and shows rises and falls clearly.
  4. A pie chart shows shares, a flow chart shows steps, and a pictogram is approximate and not suited to detailed trends.

Answer: (b) Line graph

Example 2

A firm spends ₹1,00,000 on a budget: ₹40,000 on salaries, ₹30,000 on rent, ₹20,000 on marketing and ₹10,000 on other items. In a pie chart, what angle represents salaries?

Show the solution
  1. Pie chart angle = (Part ÷ Total) × 360°.
  2. Part = ₹40,000 and Total = ₹1,00,000.
  3. 40,000 ÷ 1,00,000 = 0.4.
  4. 0.4 × 360° = 144°.

Answer: 144°

Exam tips

  • Learn the one-line purpose of each of the six formats. Most MCQs are direct matches.
  • Look for words like trend, compare, share, steps and symbols in the question.
  • Revise the pie chart angle calculation. It is a quick scoring numerical.
  • There is no negative marking, so attempt every question and eliminate clearly wrong options first.

Practice questions from Use of Graphics and References for Business Communication

Types of Graphical Presentation: Charts, Graphs and Tables in other exams

The same ground in other exams, if you are preparing for more than one or want another angle on it.

Types of Graphical Presentation: Charts, Graphs and Tables: frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a bar chart and a pie chart?

A bar chart compares values of separate items using bar lengths. A pie chart shows each part's share of one total as slices of a circle. Use bars to compare and pie to show composition.

Line graph vs bar graph: which should I use?

Use a line graph for trends over time, such as yearly profit. Use a bar graph to compare separate categories, such as branches or products.

What is a pictogram?

A pictogram uses small pictures or symbols, each standing for a fixed quantity. It is simple and eye-catching but gives only approximate values. A key must explain what one symbol means.

When is a flow chart used in business communication?

A flow chart shows the steps and decisions in a process using boxes and arrows. It suits procedures such as order approval or complaint handling.