Bird
Raised Fist0
Excelspreadsheet~15 mins

Pie and doughnut charts in Excel - Real Business Scenario

Choose your learning style10 modes available
LearnWhyDeepSheetTryChallengeScenarioRecallDash

Start learning this pattern below

Jump into concepts and practice - no test required

or
Recommended
Test this pattern10 questions across easy, medium, and hard to know if this pattern is strong
Scenario Mode
👤 Your Role: You are a sales analyst at a retail company.
📋 Request: Your manager wants a visual report showing the sales distribution by product category for the last quarter. They want both a pie chart and a doughnut chart to compare the proportions easily.
📊 Data: You have sales data for five product categories with total sales amounts for the last quarter.
🎯 Deliverable: Create a pie chart and a doughnut chart that display the sales distribution by product category. The charts should have clear labels and a legend.
Progress0 / 7 steps
Sample Data
Product CategorySales Amount
Electronics45000
Clothing30000
Home & Garden15000
Sports10000
Books5000
1
Step 1: Enter the sales data into two columns: 'Product Category' in column A and 'Sales Amount' in column B, starting from row 2.
Expected Result
Data is organized with categories in A2:A6 and sales amounts in B2:B6.
2
Step 2: Select the range A2:B6 containing the product categories and sales amounts.
Expected Result
The data range is highlighted and ready for chart creation.
3
Step 3: Insert a Pie Chart: Go to the Insert tab, click on 'Pie Chart', and select the first 2-D Pie option.
Expected Result
A pie chart appears showing the sales distribution by product category.
4
Step 4: Add data labels to the pie chart: Click the chart, then click the '+' icon, check 'Data Labels', and choose 'Percentage'.
Expected Result
Each slice of the pie chart shows the percentage of total sales it represents.
5
Step 5: Insert a Doughnut Chart: With the same data range selected, go to Insert tab, click 'Pie Chart' dropdown, and select 'Doughnut'.
Expected Result
A doughnut chart appears showing the sales distribution by product category.
6
Step 6: Add data labels to the doughnut chart: Click the chart, then click the '+' icon, check 'Data Labels', and choose 'Percentage'.
Expected Result
Each segment of the doughnut chart shows the percentage of total sales it represents.
7
Step 7: Add a chart title to both charts: Click on each chart title area and type 'Sales Distribution by Product Category'.
Expected Result
Both charts have clear titles describing the data shown.
Final Result
Pie Chart: Sales Distribution by Product Category

  Electronics 45%
  Clothing 30%
  Home & Garden 15%
  Sports 10%
  Books 5%

Doughnut Chart: Sales Distribution by Product Category

  [Electronics 45%] [Clothing 30%] [Home & Garden 15%] [Sports 10%] [Books 5%]

(Each segment labeled with percentage and legend showing categories)
✓Electronics is the largest sales category with 45% of total sales.
✓Clothing is the second largest category with 30%.
✓Books have the smallest share at 5%.
✓Pie and doughnut charts visually show the sales proportions clearly.
Bonus Challenge

Create a combined chart sheet that places both the pie chart and doughnut chart side by side for easy comparison.

Show Hint
Use the 'Move Chart' option to create a new chart sheet and arrange both charts next to each other.

Practice

(1/5)
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