Multiple Bar Chart

By multiple bars diagram two or more sets of inter-related data are represented (multiple
bar diagram facilities comparison between more than one phenomena). The technique of simple
bar chart is used to draw this diagram but the difference is that we use different shades, colors, or
dots to distinguish between different phenomena. We use to draw multiple bar charts if the total of
different phenomena is meaningless.

Example:
Draw a multiple bar chart to represent the import and export of
Canada (values in $) for the years 1991 to 1995.
Years

Imports

1991

7930

1992
1993
1994
1995

8850
9780
11720
12150

Exports
4260
5225
6150
7340
8145

Simple bar chart showing the import and export of Canada from 1991 1995.

Draw two perpendicular lines one horizontally and the other vertically
at an appropriate place of the paper.
Take the basis of classification along horizontal line (X-axis) and the
observed variable along vertical line (Y-axis) or vice versa.
Marks signs of equal breath for each class and leave equal or not less
than half breath in between two classes.
Finally marks the values of the given variable to prepare required bars.

Example:
Draw simple bar diagram to represent the profits of a bank for 5 years.

Years
Profit (million
$)

1989

1990

10

12

1991

1992
18

Simple bar chart showing the profit of a bank for 5 years.

1993
25

42

Percentage Component Bar Chart

Sub-divided bar chart may be drawn on percentage basis. To draw sub-divided bar chart
on percentage basis, we express each component as the percentage of its respective total. In
drawing percentage bar chart, bars of length equal to 100 for each class are drawn at first step and
sub-divided in the proportion of the percentage of their component in the second step. The
diagram so obtained is called percentage component bar chart or percentage staked bar chart.
This type of chart is useful to make comparison in components holding the difference of total
constant.

Example:
The table below shows the quantity in hundred kgs of Wheat, Barley
and Oats produced on a certain form during the years 1991 to 1994.
Years
1991
1992
1993
1994

Wheat
34
43
43
45

Barley
18
14
16
13

Oats
27
24
27
34

Construct a percentage component bar chart to illustrate this data.

Solution:
Necessary computations for the construction of percentage bar chart
given below:
Item
%
Wheat
Barley
Oats
Total

Cum%

Cum%

43.0
22.8
34.2
100

indicates Percentage of each item

cum indicates the cumulative percentage.

Cum%

Cum%