Proportional pie charts and annotation

Question

Hi,
I have Numbers to help me make colourful, etc. graphs for inclusion in my MSc dissertation. I am using pie charts to show annual comparisons between common forms of disposing of waste. Ideally, I'd like the pie chart to show the amount of hazardous waste produced per annum, i.e. the larger the amount produced, the larger the pie chart. Other than doing it manually, by eye, can Numbers do this?
Finally, when some of the fractions are small, instead of showing, say <1%, it will say 0%. Can I alter the labelling of the pie chart's slices?
Many thanks - and I hope that this makes sense!
Simon

Answer 1

Axtron,
Not seeing your available data, the only thing to go by is the image that comes to mind. Pie charts are excellent for depicting parts of the whole, so your concept of showing all the various waste materials produced in a year broken into percents works well. The pie charts will do the percents for you. Perhaps grouping a few waste types with small amounts and labeling them "All Others" would work.
To show comparisons of successive years would require a pie chart for each year. One would scan across the row of charts and see certain types of waste were increasing or decreasing percent-wise over a period of time. But remember, each chart has to be the same size so as not to distort the data.
If you are interested in showing increases and decreases in quantities of the various waste types over a period of time, perhaps a line or bar chart would be more effective. As a matter of fact, you could use either of these to show the percents of the pie chart as well. Once you have a table of data you can experiment with each type of chart to see which best emphasizes your point.
pw