Microsoft Excel Creating and Managing Charts Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A colleague has created a chart to show monthly sales figures and the corresponding percentage of total annual sales. The sales figures (in dollars) and percentages are on vastly different scales, making the chart difficult to read. Which of the following is the BEST solution to improve the chart's readability?
- Change the chart type to a 3-D pie chart.
- Use a combination chart and plot the percentage data on a secondary axis. (Correct answer)
- Add data labels to both data series and remove the vertical axis.
- Increase the font size of the axis labels for better visibility.
Correct answer: Use a combination chart and plot the percentage data on a secondary axis.
A combination chart allows you to use different chart types for different data series. By plotting the percentage data, which has a much smaller scale, on a secondary vertical axis, you can clearly visualize both the dollar amounts and the percentages on the same chart without distortion.
Question 2: You have created a column chart embedded in a worksheet, but you need to present it on its own for a presentation. Which is the most efficient way to move the chart to its own dedicated sheet?
- Copy the chart, create a new worksheet, and paste the chart.
- Use the 'Cut' and 'Paste' commands to move the chart to a new sheet.
- Select the chart, navigate to the 'Chart Design' tab, and use the 'Move Chart' command to place it in a 'New sheet'. (Correct answer)
- Right-click the chart, select 'Format Chart Area', and choose the 'Move to New Sheet' option.
Correct answer: Select the chart, navigate to the 'Chart Design' tab, and use the 'Move Chart' command to place it in a 'New sheet'.
The 'Move Chart' command, found on the 'Chart Design' contextual tab, is the dedicated tool for this purpose. It allows you to move the chart to a new, dedicated chart sheet or as an object in another existing worksheet.
Question 3: Which of the following chart elements provides a key to identify the different data series represented by colors, patterns, or symbols in a chart?
- Chart Title
- Data Labels
- Axis Titles
- Legend (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Legend
The legend is a key component of a chart that explains what the different colors, patterns, or symbols used for the data series represent, making the chart easier to understand.
Question 4: A manager asks you to quickly hide the data for the 'North' region from a sales chart without deleting the underlying data. Which is the quickest method to achieve this?
- Delete the 'North' region's rows from the source data table.
- Select the chart and use the Chart Filters (funnel icon) to deselect the 'North' category. (Correct answer)
- Right-click the 'North' data series and select 'Hide'.
- Change the fill color of the 'North' data series to 'No Fill'.
Correct answer: Select the chart and use the Chart Filters (funnel icon) to deselect the 'North' category.
The Chart Filters button, which appears next to a selected chart, is designed to quickly show or hide data series or categories directly on the chart without altering the source data.
Question 5: You are analyzing weekly performance data and want to show a miniature trendline for each employee within a single cell, right next to their name and total sales. Which Excel feature should you use?
- A regular Line Chart
- Conditional Formatting Data Bars
- Sparklines (Correct answer)
- A Scatter Plot
Correct answer: Sparklines
Sparklines are miniature charts that reside in a single cell, designed to provide a quick visual representation of data trends. They are perfect for showing trends in a series of values, like weekly performance, in a compact space.
Question 6: To change the chart type for a single data series in an existing chart, effectively creating a combination chart, what is the first step?
- Select the entire chart area.
- Right-click the specific data series you want to change. (Correct answer)
- Go to the 'Insert' tab and select a new chart type.
- Double-click the horizontal axis.
Correct answer: Right-click the specific data series you want to change.
To change the chart type of just one data series, you must first select that series. Right-clicking the selected series will bring up a context menu that includes the 'Change Series Chart Type...' option, allowing you to create a combination chart.
Microsoft Excel Creating and Managing Charts Questions and Answers 1
A colleague has created a chart to show monthly sales figures and the corresponding percentage of total annual sales.
The sales figures (in dollars) and percentages are on vastly different scales, making the chart difficult to read.
Which of the following is the BEST solution to improve the chart's readability?