Best Excel Chart To Show Difference Between Two Series
Excel is a powerful tool for analyzing data and presenting it in a visually appealing way. One of the most common tasks in data analysis is comparing two data series to see the difference between them. In this article, we will explore the best Excel chart to show the difference between two series.
Column Chart
The column chart is one of the most commonly used charts in Excel. It is used to compare values across different categories or time periods. The column chart is a great option to show the difference between two series because it clearly displays the difference between the values.
To create a column chart, select the data series you want to compare, go to the Insert tab, and click on the Column Chart icon. You can choose from different sub-types of column charts, such as clustered, stacked, and 100% stacked. The clustered column chart is the best option to show the difference between two series because it displays each series side by side.
Line Chart
The line chart is another popular chart type in Excel. It is used to show trends over time or across different categories. The line chart can also be used to compare two data series to show the difference between them.
To create a line chart, select the data series you want to compare, go to the Insert tab, and click on the Line Chart icon. You can choose from different sub-types of line charts, such as stacked, 100% stacked, and smoothed line. The stacked line chart is the best option to show the difference between two series because it displays each series stacked on top of each other.
Area Chart
The area chart is a variation of the line chart. It is used to show the trend of a data series over time or across different categories. The area chart can also be used to compare two data series to show the difference between them.
To create an area chart, select the data series you want to compare, go to the Insert tab, and click on the Area Chart icon. You can choose from different sub-types of area charts, such as stacked, 100% stacked, and smoothed line. The stacked area chart is the best option to show the difference between two series because it displays each series stacked on top of each other.
Scatter Chart
The scatter chart is used to show the relationship between two variables. It can also be used to compare two data series to show the difference between them.
To create a scatter chart, select the data series you want to compare, go to the Insert tab, and click on the Scatter Chart icon. You can choose from different sub-types of scatter charts, such as scatter with straight lines, scatter with smooth lines, and scatter with markers. The scatter with straight lines chart is the best option to show the difference between two series because it displays each series with a different color and a straight line connecting the points.
Combo Chart
The combo chart is a combination of two or more chart types in one chart. It is used to show different types of data in one chart. The combo chart can also be used to compare two data series to show the difference between them.
To create a combo chart, select the data series you want to compare, go to the Insert tab, and click on the Combo Chart icon. You can choose from different sub-types of combo charts, such as column and line, column and scatter, and line and scatter. The column and line chart is the best option to show the difference between two series because it displays each series side by side and also shows the trend of each series.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are different types of Excel charts that can be used to show the difference between two data series. The best chart type depends on the type of data and the message that you want to convey. The column chart is the best option to show the difference between two series when you want to compare values. The line chart, area chart, and scatter chart are good options when you want to show the trend of the data series. The combo chart is a good option when you want to show different types of data in one chart.