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Visualizing Parts of a Whole
Visualizing Parts of a Whole
Imagine you're analyzing your monthly budget: Rent (£800), Food (£400), Transport (£200), Entertainment (£200), Savings (£400). Which takes up the biggest slice of your spending? A pie chart would instantly show that rent takes up almost half your budget!
Pie charts are perfect for showing how different categories make up a total - like slices of a pie making up the whole pie.
What is a pie chart?: A pie chart is a circular diagram divided into sectors, where each sector represents a category of data. The size of each sector is proportional to the frequency or amount it represents.
Mathematics glossary
- What is a pie chart?
- A pie chart is a circular diagram divided into sectors, where each sector represents a category of data. The size of each sector is proportional to the frequency or amount it represents.
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Exam Tips for Pie Charts
- Always check angles add to 360° - this catches calculation errors
- Use a calculator efficiently - calculate (value ÷ total) × 360° in one go
- Round sensibly - angles to the nearest degree usually
- Label clearly - include category names and values or percentages
- Start from 12 o'clock when drawing pie charts
- Draw largest sectors first for easier construction
- Include a key/legend when colors or patterns aren't clear
- Show your working especially for angle calculations
Now try it yourself
Quiz · Question 1 of 14
A pie chart shows the results of a survey about favourite holiday destinations. The sectors have the following angles: - Beach: 144° - City: 90° - Countryside: 72° - Mountains: 54° Which destination is the modal category?
Tap an answer to check it
This topic in real past papers
Every real exam question we've found on pie charts, with a full worked answer.