The big picture
Seven ideas go from collected facts to a chart you trust.
| Idea | Remember |
|---|---|
| Two shapes of data | Structured data fits rows and columns. Unstructured data does not. |
| Four ways to collect | Watch it, ask it, measure it, or let a device record it. |
| File formats | A format decides how easily data is read, shared and analysed. |
| Clean first | Remove copies and fix errors and gaps before you count or chart. |
| Bar, line or pie | A bar chart compares groups. A line graph shows change over time. A pie chart shows parts of a whole. |
| Reading a chart | Read the title, the axis labels and units, and the legend first. |
| Precise and accurate | Accuracy is closeness to the true value. Precision is how fine and steady the readings are. |
The first four ideas get the data ready. The last three help you draw it and read it carefully.
Your school handbook covers the same topics. You have now seen its main ideas.