What is the difference between a bar chart and a histogram?

• A. Bar chart uses discrete categories; histogram shows frequency distribution of continuous data
• B. Bar chart shows distributions; histogram compares categories
• C. Bar chart is for continuous data; histogram for categorical data
• D. Bar chart is used for time series

Answer: (A)

The main distinction is how the data are treated. A bar chart groups data into separate, distinct categories, with gaps between the bars, and the height of each bar shows the value for that category (for example, types of fruit or different countries). It’s used when you’re comparing different groups that don’t naturally form a continuous scale.

A histogram, by contrast, uses a numeric, continuous variable. The data are grouped into equal-width intervals (bins) along the axis, and the bars touch each other to show the data span a continuous range. The height reflects how many observations fall into each interval, giving a picture of the distribution of the data across the whole range.

So the correct idea is that bar charts handle discrete categories, while histograms show the distribution of continuous data. The other statements mix up distribution, categories, and the nature of the data.