&KDSWHU8-12
Key Concept
Misleading Graphs- The scale is compressed or expanded, making
the data appear to rise or fall more or less steeply. - The intervals on the scales are not equal, making
data appear to rise or fall more or less steeply. - There is no title or there are no labels on the
axes, or the units of measure are not indicated. - The scale does not begin with zero, or a break in
the scale distorts the appearance of the data.
Misleading Statistics and Graphs
Objective To recognize the characteristics of a misleading graph •To recognize
misleading statisticsThe two line graphs below show the same information about
the number of units of tree fertilizer True Greenhas sold.
Why do the graphs differ in appearance? Which graph could
be misleading? Why?
To find why the graphs differ and which graph could be
misleading, look at the axes of each graph.2000 2002 2004 2006 20081086420
2000 2002 2004 2006 20089 8 7 6 5 0YearTrue Green FertilizerFertilizers Sold (thousands)YearTrue Green Fertilizer)HUWLOL]HUV6ROG WKRXVDQGV The vertical axis
is broken.The graph at the right is misleading. Both
the break in the vertical scale and the fact
that two vertical units are used for each one
thousand units of fertilizer makes the line
appear to rise more steeply. This distorts
the data, making it appear that sales are
rising rapidly.
Although one graph seems to have a different
value than the other, they both show the same
number of units of fertilizers sold each year.
The bar graphs below show the same data about True Greenshipments for 1 month
to different places. The difference of the intervals of the scales makes the graph on
the right appear as if there were nearly 0 shipments to Albany when in fact there
were more than 100. The graph on the right is misleading.1XPEHURI)HUWLOL]HU8QLWV&LW\0 100 110 120 150140130Utica
Buffalo
Albany
Tr o y1XPEHURI)HUWLOL]HU8QLWV&LW\0 120 140 160 220200180Utica
Buffalo
Albany
Tr o y7UXH*UHHQ)HUWLOL]HUV6KLSPHQWV 7UXH*UHHQ)HUWLOL]HUV6KLSPHQWV