What type of graph is best used to show parts of a whole?

A pie chart is the most effective type of graph for displaying parts of a whole because it visually represents data as slices of a circle, where each slice corresponds to a category’s proportion of the total. This allows for immediate visual interpretation of how each part relates to the entire dataset. The area of each slice is proportional to the value it represents, making it easy to compare different categories at a glance.

In contrast, line graphs are best suited for showing trends over time, bar graphs are effective for comparing discrete values across different categories, and scatter plots are utilized to display relationships between two numerical variables. Therefore, for illustrating proportions and the relationship of individual parts to a total, a pie chart is undoubtedly the ideal choice.