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William Playfair: A Daring Worthless Fellow

Author(s):
Spence, Ian; Wainer, Howard
Publication Year:
1997
Report Number:
RM-97-09
Source:
ETS Research Memorandum
Document Type:
Report
Subject/Key Words:
Graphics, Inventions, Playfair, William, Statistics

Abstract

Between 1786 and 1801 William Playfair invented the pie chart and bar graph and was the first to apply the line to economic data. Hence, he invented or improved three of the four fundamental types of statistical graphs.

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