Introduction to DI

Data
Data is a plural of datum, which is originally a Latin noun meaning something given. Today, data is used in English both as a plural noun meaning facts or pieces of information and as a singular mass noun meaninginformation. Information refers to data being arranged and presented in a systematic or an organize form, so that some useful inferences can be drawn from the same. By data we generally mean quantities, figures, statistics, relating to any event.

Data Interpretation
Data Interpretation refers to interpretation or extraction of maximum information from a given set of data or information. The data presented can be in various forms:

Tablular Data Line Graph Bar Chart Pie Chart Familiarity with the concepts of quant (number systems, calculations, fractions, percentages, profit and loss) helps in reducing the time required for solving the questions that follow. A table is a means of arranging data in rows and columns. Any data in a cell represents value corresponding to row and column. A table is the simplest form of data presentation without any graphical or visual display.

Example
Following is a very simple table (just to give an idea) giving information about number of students in a class and number of students passed.

Questions which can be asked: Percentage of students passed or failed? Which subject has highest pass ratio?

Line Graph
A line graph is generally used in displaying data or information that changes continuously over time.

Pie Chart or Graph

A pie chart (or a circle graph) is a circular chart divided into sectors, illustrating relative magnitudes or frequencies. In a pie chart, the arc length of each sector (and consequently its central angle and area), is proportional to the quantity it represents. Together, the sectors create a full disk. It is named for its resemblance to a pie which has been sliced.

Bar Chart or Graph

A bar chart or bar graph is a chart with rectangular bars with lengths proportional to the values that they represent. Bar charts are used for comparing two or more values that were taken over time or on different conditions, usually on small data sets. The bars can be horizontally oriented (also called bar chart) or vertically oriented (also called column chart). Sometimes a stretched graphic is used instead of a solid bar. It is a visual display used to compare the amount or frequency of occurrence of different characteristics of data and it is used to compare groups of data.