Question

a university surveys a random sample of 200 students. each student is asked to select all the devices they regularly use to access their course materials. the survey results are summarized in the table below. from this information, which one of the following statements is correct?

device used	number of students selecting device
smartphone	120
laptop	40
desktop computer	30
other	10

because students could select multiple devices when completing the survey, a bar graph, as opposed to a pie chart, would be a more appropriate way to display the data.

the best way to represent this data would be to use a histogram since the device types are discrete categories.

because the devices can be ordered by how much they are used, the only valid way to display this data is with a line graph.

we should refer to \device used\ as being a quantitative variable because there is a number associated with each type of device.

to graph this data, a pie chart would be most appropriate since 100% of the students in the sample had the option to choose each of the different types of devices.

Explanation:

Pie - charts are used for parts - of - a - whole when there is no overlap. Since students can select multiple devices, the total number of selections will exceed 100% of the sample size, making a pie - chart inappropriate. A histogram is for numerical data grouped into intervals, not for discrete categories like device types. A line graph is for showing trends over time or a continuous variable, not for discrete device categories. "Device used" is a categorical variable, not a quantitative one. A bar graph is suitable when data can be in multiple non - mutually exclusive categories, which is the case here as students can choose multiple devices.

Answer:

Because students could select multiple devices when completing the survey, a bar graph, as opposed to a pie chart, would be a more appropriate way to display the data.