What type of chart may be used to show trends over time?

A line chart is particularly effective for showing trends over time because it connects individual data points with lines, making it easy to visualize changes and patterns as they occur. This type of chart allows viewers to easily track data progression over various time intervals, such as days, months, or years. The continuous nature of the line invites comparisons between different periods, highlighting increases and decreases in values succinctly.

In contrast, a bar chart is generally used to compare discrete categories rather than showing continuous data over time. A pie chart illustrates parts of a whole at a specific point in time rather than changes over time. A scatter plot is great for showing the relationship between two variables, but it does not effectively convey temporal trends, as the data points are not connected in a way that reflects changes over time. Therefore, for analyzing trends specifically, a line chart is the most suitable choice.