To determine the change in population of the town over time, it is crucial to select a type of graph that clearly shows trends and changes in the data over the given years. Let's evaluate the options:
1. Bar Graph:
- A bar graph is useful for comparing quantities of different categories that are independent of each other. While it can show population values, it doesn't effectively demonstrate trends over time.
2. Line Graph:
- A line graph is excellent for representing data points across a continuous variable, such as time. It connects individual data points, showing how the population changes from one year to the next. This makes it easy to observe trends, increases, and decreases over the observed period.
3. Line Plot:
- A line plot (or dot plot in this context) usually represents individual data points along a number line, often used for smaller datasets. It’s less effective for showing changes over time compared to a line graph.
4. Stem and Leaf Plot:
- A stem and leaf plot is a way to organize data to display its shape and distribution. While it can show the overall spread of population values, it won’t effectively communicate changes over time.
Considering the need to visualize the change in population over several years, the line graph is the best choice. It allows the mayor to clearly see population trends and fluctuations from 1990 to 2010, providing a visual representation that makes it easy to identify patterns.
Thus, the best choice to represent the change in the population of the town over time is a line graph.
