MLS-C01 Exploratory Data Analysis Practice Question
A data scientist is performing EDA on a dataset with a timestamp column. They want to detect seasonality. Which visualization is most appropriate?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Line plot of value over time
A line plot of value over time directly visualizes the temporal trend, making seasonal patterns (e.g., repeating cycles) easily identifiable. Option A (box plot of value grouped by month) shows the distribution per month but does not reveal the sequential order or cyclical pattern. Option B (bar chart of average value per month) averages out within-month variations and may obscure seasonality that occurs at finer granularity. Option D (scatter plot of timestamp vs. value) can become cluttered with many points and does not connect observations in time, making it harder to detect seasonality.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Box plot of value grouped by month
Why it's wrong here
Box plot of value grouped by month shows the distribution per month but does not reveal the sequential order or cyclical pattern.
- ✗
Bar chart of average value per month
Why it's wrong here
Bar chart of average value per month averages out within-month variations and may obscure seasonality that occurs at finer granularity.
- ✓
Line plot of value over time
Why this is correct
Line plot of value over time directly visualizes the temporal trend, making seasonal patterns (e.g., repeating cycles) easily identifiable.
- ✗
Scatter plot of timestamp vs. value
Why it's wrong here
Scatter plot of timestamp vs. value can become cluttered with many points and does not connect observations in time, making it harder to detect seasonality.
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