2. Histograms are a powerful data representation
tool and are useful for quickly seeing and
understanding data. In this activity, you’ll learn
about the strengths and also the weaknesses of
using a histogram in a business setting.
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3. STRENGTHS
1. Histograms, because of their flexibility, can
allow you to condense and work more easily
with a large data set. Other tools, like bar
charts, can be cumbersome and difficult to
understand when representing larger data sets.
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4. STRENGTHS
2. Histograms are strong visual representations.
Viewers that understand how to interpret
histograms can also very quickly understand the
underlying data set.
3. Histograms generally follow the standard
distribution curve. If a histogram does not look
like a standard curve, it can be a clue that
something is wrong.

5. WEAKNESSES
1. Histogram “bins” are flexible enough to condense large
data sets into understandable terms, but that also means
that two histograms of the same data set can tell very
different stories. Time variations and crucial details can be
concealed inside of lumped bins. The two histograms
below are generated from the same data set. How is the
“story” different between the two?
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Website Visit Duration Histogram
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6. WEAKNESSES
2. Histograms are a “snapshot” of data in time, meaning
they only tell the story of what is happening at that
specific time. It is wise to use multiple “snapshots” to help
you better understand how the story as data moves or
evolves over time. This is true for all types of graphs.
Website Visit Duration Histogram
Website Visit Duration Histogram
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7. CRITICAL THINKING: Can you think of a situation
that a histogram might not follow a standard
distribution curve? What story does the
histogram tell you about the situation?
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