A physical science teacher calculates each student's final grades by using the weighted rubric below.

\begin{tabular}{|l|l|}
\hline Final exam: & [tex]$50\%$[/tex] \\
\hline Quizzes: & [tex]$20\%$[/tex] \\
\hline Class project: & [tex]$20\%$[/tex] \\
\hline Class participation: & [tex]$10\%$[/tex] \\
\hline Total: & [tex]$100\%$[/tex] \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

Which type of graph is best suited to show the breakdown of how this teacher weighs each category?

A. line graph
B. scatterplot
C. pie graph
D. frequency distribution



Answer :

To determine which type of graph is best suited to show the breakdown of how a teacher weighs each category in the given rubric, let's analyze the characteristics and purposes of the options provided:

1. Line Graph: This graph is usually used to display data points over a continuous range, such as time series. It shows trends and how data changes over intervals. It's not appropriate for showing how different categories of grades are proportioned.

2. Scatterplot: This graph is used to show the relationship between two variables. Points are plotted on a Cartesian plane. It's useful for identifying correlations and trends between variables, but not for showing proportions of a whole.

3. Pie Graph: This circular graph is divided into sectors, where each sector represents a proportion of the total. The size of each sector is proportional to the quantity it represents. This type of graph is very effective for displaying parts of a whole, making it ideal for showing the different weight categories of grades in a visual manner.

4. Frequency Distribution: This type of graph shows how often each different value in a set of data occurs. It is helpful for understanding the distribution of data points but doesn't convey information about categorical proportions within a whole.

Given the need to illustrate the proportions of different categories in the teacher's grading rubric, the pie graph is the most appropriate choice. It best represents the breakdown of the final exam, quizzes, class project, and class participation percentages in a visual format that allows for easy comparison of each category's weight.

Therefore, the best type of graph to show the breakdown of how the teacher weighs each category is a pie graph. This effectively conveys the proportions of each category in the total grading scheme.