Plotting Growth: Pitfalls of Histogram | Dataford Interview Questions

Your question is Plotting Growth: Pitfalls of Histogram. Take a moment with it on the right.

Talk me through your thinking if you like. When you're confident, submit your answer and I'll grade it like a real screen (7/10 or better passes).

Problem

In Python, plot user_growth over time. What is the problem with using a histogram, and why not a time series? If a holiday produces an outlier much larger than prior values, how would you handle it if it must be shown on one chart?

Asked in the technical phone screen stage. Follow-ups from the interviewer focused on chart choice and outlier treatment.

Requirements

Explain why a histogram is inappropriate for this question.
Identify the appropriate time-based visualization and justify it.
Describe a transparent way to show the holiday outlier on the same chart.
Provide a concise Python implementation approach.

Data available

A time-indexed user_growth series containing a date and growth value for each observation.

Your question is Plotting Growth: Pitfalls of Histogram. Take a moment with it on the right.

Talk me through your thinking if you like. When you're confident, submit your answer and I'll grade it like a real screen (7/10 or better passes).

Asked in the technical phone screen stage. Follow-ups from the interviewer focused on chart choice and outlier treatment.

Requirements

Explain why a histogram is inappropriate for this question.
Identify the appropriate time-based visualization and justify it.
Describe a transparent way to show the holiday outlier on the same chart.
Provide a concise Python implementation approach.

Data available

A time-indexed user_growth series containing a date and growth value for each observation.