AP_Krugman_Textbook

Bar graphsuse bars of various heights or lengths to indicate values of a variable. In

the bar graph in Figure A.10, the bars show the percent change in the number of un-

employed workers in the United States from 2001 to 2002, indicated separately for

White, Black or African-American, and Asian workers. Exact values of the variable that

is being measured may be written at the end of the bar, as in this figure. For instance,

the number of unemployed Asian workers in the United States increased by 35% be-

tween 2001 and 2002. But even without the precise values, comparing the heights or

lengths of the bars can give useful insight into the relative magnitudes of the different

values of the variable.

44 section I Basic Economic Concepts

figure A.10

Bar Graph

A bar graph measures a variable by using

bars of various heights or lengths. This bar

graph shows the percent change in the

number of unemployed workers between

2001 and 2002, indicated separately for

White, Black or African-American, and Asian

workers.

Source:Bureau of Labor Statistics.

White 1,168,000

277,000

101,000

Percent change

in number of

unemployed

Changes in the Number of Unemployed by Race (2001–2002)

Change in number

of unemployed

Asian

Black or

African-

American

24%

35%

20%