Construction of Pie Chart

Now we will discuss about the construction of pie chart or pie graph. In brief let us recall about, what is a pie chart?

It is a circular graph which is used to represent data. In this :

● Various observations of the data are represented by the sectors of the circle.

● The total angle formed at the centre is 360°.

● The whole circle represents the sum of the values of all the components.

● The angle at the centre corresponding to the particular observation component is given by

Pie Chart

● If the values of observation/components are expressed in percentage, then the centre angle corresponding to particular observation/component is given by

Pie Chart


How to construct a pie chart?

Steps of construction of pie chart for a given data:

● Find the central angle for each component using the formula given on the previous page.

● Draw a circle of any radius.

● Draw a horizontal radius

● Starting with the horizontal radius, draw radii, making central angles corresponding to the values of respective components.

● Repeat the process for all the components of the given data.

● These radii divide the whole circle into various sectors.

● Now, shade the sectors with different colours to denote various components.

● Thus, we obtain the required pie chart.


Solved example on

construction of pie chart/pie graph:

1. The following table shows the numbers of hours spent by a child on different events on a working day.

Represent the adjoining information on a pie chart

Activity No. of Hours
School 6
Sleep 8
Playing 2
Study 4
T. V. 1
Others 3

The central angles for various observations can be calculated as:

Activity No. of Hours Measure of central angle
School 6 (6/24 × 360)° = 90°
Sleep 8 (8/24 × 360)° = 120°
Playing 2 (2/24 × 360)° = 30°
Study 4 (4/24 × 360)° = 60°
T. V. 1 (1/24 × 360)° = 15°
Others 3 (3/24 × 360)° = 45°

Now, we shall represent these angles within the circle as different sectors. Then we now make the pie chart:

Construction of Pie Chart


2. The favourite flavours of ice-cream for the children in a locality are given in percentage as follow. Draw the pie chart to represent the given information

Flavours % of Students Prefer the Flavours
Vanilla 25 %
Strawberry 15 %
Chocolate 10 %
Kesar-Pista 30 %
Mango Zap 20 %

The central angles for various observations can be calculated as:

Flavours % of Students Prefer the Flavours Measure of Central Angles
Vanilla 25 % (25/100 × 360)° = 90°
Strawberry 15 % (15/100 × 360)° = 54°
Chocolate 10 % (10/100 × 360)° = 36°
Kesar-Pista 30 % (30/100 × 360)° = 108°
Mango Zap 20 % (20/100 × 360)° = 72°

Now, we shall represent these angles within a circle to obtain the required pie graph.

Pie Graph

● Statistics




From Construction of Pie Chart to HOME PAGE


New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Ask a Question or Answer a Question.



Didn't find what you were looking for? Or want to know more information about Math Only Math. Use this Google Search to find what you need.