MLS-C01 Exploratory Data Analysis Practice Question
A data scientist is reviewing a dataset and notices that the distribution of a numerical feature is heavily right-skewed with a long tail. Which visualization is most appropriate to assess the distribution?
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
✓
Histogram with a logarithmic scale on the x-axis
A histogram with a logarithmic scale on the x-axis can effectively display the distribution of a heavily right-skewed numerical feature by compressing the long tail and making the shape more interpretable. Option A (box plot) is less suitable because it shows quartiles and outliers but not the full distribution shape. Option B (line chart) is used for time series or trends, not for distribution assessment. Option C (scatter plot) is for visualizing relationships between two variables, not a single variable's distribution.
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
Why it's wrong here
Box plot shows summary statistics but not the detailed distribution shape.
- ✗
Line chart
Why it's wrong here
Line chart is typically for time series data.
- ✗
Scatter plot
Why it's wrong here
Scatter plot shows relationship between two variables.
- ✓
Histogram with a logarithmic scale on the x-axis
Why this is correct
Log scale helps visualize skewed distributions.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every MLS-C01 question from scratch — 1,672 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This MLS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MLS-C01 exam.