How does a polygon (line chart) differ from a traditional bar chart?

A polygon, often represented by a line chart, connects data points in a linear fashion, creating a continuous line that shows the trend of the data over a specific interval. This allows for easy visualization of changes between points and helps identify patterns over time or across a range of values. This is particularly useful for displaying data that demonstrates a sequence or progression, as the connected points can highlight increases, decreases, or fluctuations that might not be as clear in other chart types.

In contrast, a traditional bar chart displays individual categories with distinct rectangular bars, making it effective for comparing discrete values rather than illustrating trends or relationships between points. The linear connectivity of a polygon can provide insights into trends that a series of disconnected bars cannot. Thus, the continuity in a polygon chart is a key differentiator, making it particularly suitable for illustrating data trends over time.

The other options focus on different aspects of data representation; for instance, frequency distributions, categorical relationships, and proportions are features best suited to other chart types, highlighting why a polygon specifically serves the purpose of connecting data points effectively.