What is a typical use of a bar graph?

A bar graph is typically used to compare amounts in different categories, making it a powerful tool for visualizing categorical data. Each bar represents a different category, and the length or height of the bar corresponds to the value or frequency of that category. This visual representation allows for easy comparison across categories, highlighting differences and similarities among them.

For example, if one were to compare the sales figures of different products, each product would have its own bar on the graph, showing how much each has sold. This is particularly useful because it allows viewers to quickly assess which category has the highest or lowest values at a glance.

While other graph types serve different purposes—such as line graphs for showing trends over time or pie charts for representing proportions—bar graphs excel in instances where distinct categories are being evaluated.