How is a venn diagram used?

Answer 1

A Venn diagram can be used to compare and contrast two or more different items. It consists of two (or more) overlapping circles - so there is a small region of overlap between the circles. Generally, they can be used to illustrate the similarities and differences between two or more items. For instance, a Venn diagram could be used to compare lamps and flashlights. Both produce light (that information would go in the middle of the Venn diagram, where the circles overlap), but the lamp must be plugged in, while the flashlight runs on battery power (those pieces of information would go in the outsides of the circle - differences).

Venn diagrams can also be used for probability, logic, stats, etc. By putting one situation or characteristic in each circle, you can determine the probability of one or both of the scenarios occurring. In this use of the Venn diagram, the region of overlap represents the time when both of the situations occur. For example, one could compare the number of students who have brown hair with the number of students who are more than 5 feet tall. Students with both of these characteristics would be placed in the middle of the Venn diagram (the overlap), while students with just one of these characteristics would fall in the outer edges of the circles.