Data structure
Balanced matrix
Creating a chord diagram with a balanced matrix involves using a square matrix where the rows and columns represent the same categories, and the values indicate the relationships or flows between them. A balanced matrix means that the sum of the rows equals the sum of the columns for each category, often used to visualize symmetric relationships or flows in a system.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
A | 0 | 5 | 5 |
B | 5 | 0 | 5 |
C | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Unbalanced matrix
A chord diagram with an unbalanced matrix represents data where the sum of the rows does not necessarily equal the sum of the columns. This is common in many real-world scenarios where the flow or relationship between entities is not symmetric.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
A | 0 | 30 | 10 |
B | 20 | 0 | 40 |
C | 50 | 10 | 0 |
D | 10 | 30 | 0 |
Interpretation
Thickness of Chords: The width of a chord segment for a category indicates the magnitude of flow from or to that category. If a chord is thicker on the left side where it connects to A, it shows that A is contributing more to another entity than it is receiving.
Disparities: Any visible disparity in the thickness of the chord at either end highlights the imbalance in the relationship.
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