Pie and doughnut charts in Excel - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

Calculate percentage for pie chart slices

You have sales data in cells A2:A5 and total sales in cell A6. Which formula in B2 correctly calculates the percentage share of sales in A2 for a pie chart?

A =SUM(A2)/$A$6

B =A2/A6

C =A2/$A$6

D =$A$6/A2

💡 Hint

Use absolute reference for total sales to keep it fixed when copying the formula.

The formula =A2/$A$6 divides the sales in A2 by the total sales in A6 using an absolute reference to keep the denominator fixed when copying down. This gives the correct percentage for each slice in the pie chart.

❓ Function Choice

intermediate

Best function to sum categories for doughnut chart

You want to create a doughnut chart showing total sales by category. Which function best sums sales for each category listed in column A with sales in column B?

A MAX(B:B)

B COUNTIF(B:B, ">0")

C AVERAGE(B:B)

D SUMIF(A:A, "Category1", B:B)

💡 Hint

You need to add sales only for one category at a time.

The SUMIF function adds values in column B where the category in column A matches the specified category. This is perfect for summing sales by category for a doughnut chart.

🎯 Scenario

advanced

Fixing incorrect pie chart slice sizes

You created a pie chart but the slices do not match the sales data percentages. What is the most likely cause?

A The data range includes empty cells or text values.

B The chart type is set to doughnut instead of pie.

C The chart title is missing.

D The worksheet is protected.

💡 Hint

Pie charts need clean numeric data to calculate slice sizes correctly.

If the data range includes empty cells or text, Excel cannot calculate correct slice sizes, causing the pie chart to display incorrectly.

❓ data_analysis

advanced

Analyzing doughnut chart data labels

You want to show both category names and percentages on doughnut chart labels. Which setting combination achieves this?

A Enable 'Series Name' and 'Value' in data label options.

B Enable 'Category Name' and 'Percentage' in data label options.

C Enable 'Legend' only and disable data labels.

D Enable 'Value' only in data label options.

💡 Hint

Data labels can show multiple pieces of info if selected.

Choosing both 'Category Name' and 'Percentage' in the data label options displays the category and its percentage on each slice of the doughnut chart.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Understanding doughnut chart ring levels

You have a doughnut chart with two rings showing sales by region (outer ring) and by product (inner ring). What does the size of each slice in the inner ring represent?

A The proportion of product sales within the total sales of its region.

B The total sales of the product across all regions.

C The total sales of the region regardless of product.

D The average sales of all products combined.

💡 Hint

Doughnut charts with multiple rings show hierarchical data.

The inner ring slices represent product sales as a part of their specific region's total sales shown in the outer ring. This shows the breakdown within each region.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of a pie chart in Excel?

easy

A. To display data trends over time

B. To compare two sets of data side by side

C. To show parts of a whole as slices of a circle

D. To list data in rows and columns

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand pie chart basics

   A pie chart divides a circle into slices representing parts of a whole.

2. Step 2: Compare with other chart types

   Unlike line or bar charts, pie charts focus on showing proportions, not trends or comparisons.

3. Final Answer:

   To show parts of a whole as slices of a circle -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Pie chart = parts of whole [OK]

Hint: Pie charts show slices of a circle representing parts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking pie charts show trends over time
• Confusing pie charts with bar charts
• Using pie charts for unrelated data types

2. Which of the following is the correct way to insert a doughnut chart in Excel?

easy

A. Select data, press Ctrl+C, then Ctrl+V

B. Select data, go to Insert tab, click on Doughnut chart icon

C. Right-click data and choose 'Create Pie Chart'

D. Use the formula =DOUGHNUTCHART(A1:A5)

Solution

1. Step 1: Locate chart insertion method

   Excel inserts charts from the Insert tab where chart types are listed.

2. Step 2: Identify doughnut chart option

   Under Insert, the Doughnut chart icon is available to create this chart type.

3. Final Answer:

   Select data, go to Insert tab, click on Doughnut chart icon -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Insert tab -> Doughnut chart icon [OK]

Hint: Insert tab has all chart types including doughnut [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to create charts with formulas
• Copy-pasting data instead of inserting charts
• Right-click menu does not create doughnut charts

3. Given this data in cells A1:B4:
Category | Value
Food | 30
Rent | 50
Utilities| 20
What percentage will the 'Rent' slice show in a pie chart?

medium

A. 50%

B. 33.3%

C. 30%

D. 20%

Solution

1. Step 1: Calculate total value

   Total = 30 + 50 + 20 = 100

2. Step 2: Calculate Rent percentage

   Rent = 50; Percentage = (50 / 100) * 100 = 50%

3. Final Answer:

   50% -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Rent is half of total = 50% [OK]

Hint: Divide slice value by total sum, multiply by 100 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding percentages instead of values
• Using wrong total sum
• Confusing category names with values

4. You created a pie chart but the slices do not add up to 100%. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. Chart is not selected

B. Chart type is set to bar chart

C. Data labels are missing

D. Data includes blank or zero values

Solution

1. Step 1: Check data values

   Blank or zero values reduce total sum, causing slices not to add to 100%.

2. Step 2: Verify chart type and labels

   Bar chart or missing labels do not affect slice percentages adding to 100%.

3. Final Answer:

   Data includes blank or zero values -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Missing data affects pie slice totals [OK]

Hint: Check for blanks or zeros in data range [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing chart type with data issues
• Assuming labels affect slice sums
• Not checking data completeness

5. You want to create a doughnut chart showing sales by region, but also want to highlight the top region slice with a different color. What is the best way to do this in Excel?

hard

A. Create the doughnut chart, then click the top region slice and change its fill color

B. Use a formula to color the slice automatically

C. Insert a pie chart instead and change the chart type later

D. Add data labels and remove the legend

Solution

1. Step 1: Insert doughnut chart with sales data

   Select data and insert a doughnut chart from the Insert tab.

2. Step 2: Highlight top region slice

   Click the slice representing the top region, then change its fill color manually.

3. Final Answer:

   Create the doughnut chart, then click the top region slice and change its fill color -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Manual slice color change highlights parts [OK]

Hint: Click slice, then change fill color to highlight [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting formulas to color slices automatically
• Changing chart type instead of slice color
• Removing legend instead of highlighting slice