A biologist records counts of different fish species caught in a lake. If the results are organized in a frequency distribution graph, what kind of graph should be used?

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Multiple Choice

A biologist records counts of different fish species caught in a lake. If the results are organized in a frequency distribution graph, what kind of graph should be used?

Explanation:
When you’re displaying frequency data for distinct categories, use a bar graph. Each category (here, a fish species) gets its own bar, and the height shows how many were caught, making it easy to compare how common each species is. A histogram is for continuous data that are grouped into intervals, so it would imply a numerical spectrum rather than separate species. A polygon (frequency polygon) connects points from a histogram, which again suits continuous data, not categorical counts. So the bar graph is the best choice for showing the distribution of counts across different species.

When you’re displaying frequency data for distinct categories, use a bar graph. Each category (here, a fish species) gets its own bar, and the height shows how many were caught, making it easy to compare how common each species is. A histogram is for continuous data that are grouped into intervals, so it would imply a numerical spectrum rather than separate species. A polygon (frequency polygon) connects points from a histogram, which again suits continuous data, not categorical counts. So the bar graph is the best choice for showing the distribution of counts across different species.

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