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Area in graphs

Area in graphs

The focus of considering the graph presented here is the importance of the area of each portion of a bar representing the value or frequency of the variable plotted.

This is one type of a misleading graph.

S_CM_M2_E2_fig1

Discussion points

  • What is the title of the graph?
  • What is being represented on the horizontal axis?
  • What is being represented vertically?
  • In a bar graph the area of a bar is proportional to the quantity represented in the bar, so how is this graph misleading?
  • What percentage of the weekly spending is spent on transport?
  • What percentage of the amount spent on transport would the area shown on the graph appear to represent?
  • Why do you think the reporter produced this plot?
  • Explain why we cannot find a median for this data set.

Suggested answers for misleading area graphs can be downloaded.

Yes

Yes

Name Class Section
Document Year 6: Interpret secondary data presented in digital media and elsewhere Infobox 3
Document Source Infobox 3