CHART 1 Graphing Accurately
The pattern in graph A shows drastic change. A steep
drop in 1990 is followed by rapid recovery and instability.
The pattern in graph B is much more constant. The
decline from 1989 to 1990 is smooth, and the other
years are almost level. Both graphs are for identical data,
the U.S. business failure rate from 1985 to 2002. The X
axis (bottom) for years is the same.
The scale of the Yaxis is 60 to 160 in graph A and 0
to 400 in graph B. The pattern in graph A only looks
more dramatic because of the Yaxis scale. When
reading graphs, be careful to check the scale. Some
people purposely choose a scale to minimize or
dramatize a pattern in the data.160
150140
130120
110100
908070
60198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002Graph A400350300250200150100500198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002Graph B