What graph is typically used for measuring trends over time?

A line graph is typically used for measuring trends over time because it effectively illustrates how a particular variable changes across a continuous range, often represented along the x-axis, which signifies time, while the y-axis represents the variable being measured. The connected data points in a line graph create a visual representation of the progression, allowing for easy identification of patterns, trends, fluctuations, and comparisons over specific intervals.

This format is particularly useful for showing changes at regular intervals, making it simple to track increases, decreases, and overall shifts in data across time periods. For example, if you were to plot a company's monthly sales revenue over a year, a line graph would clearly depict how sales trends vary from month to month, facilitating interpretations regarding performance and the effects of seasonality or other factors.

Other graph types, like bar graphs, pie charts, or scatter plots, serve different purposes, such as comparing quantities, showing proportions, or displaying relationships between two variables, respectively. However, they do not convey temporal changes as effectively as a line graph does.