What is depicted by a pie chart?

A pie chart is specifically designed to show the relationships of different categories to a whole. This type of chart divides a circle into slices, where each slice represents a proportion of the total. The area of each slice correlates with its contribution to the whole, allowing viewers to easily see how various segments relate to one another as part of the entire dataset.

In comparison, other graphical representations, such as bar charts, illustrate comparative lengths of bars to show differences in quantities between categories. Line graphs depict continuous data over time, emphasizing trends and changes over intervals. Individual data points could be represented in scatter plots to convey relationships between two variables. Therefore, the unique purpose of a pie chart is to emphasize the parts that make up a total, making the depiction of relationships of different categories to a whole its defining feature.