Spotting Misleading Graphs Quiz

Which of the following is a common way that a graph can be misleading through scale distortion?

• Using a consistent scale on both axes

• Starting the y-axis at a value greater than zero

• Labeling all data points clearly

• Showing all data points in the dataset

What is one way to manipulate the axes of a graph to exaggerate differences between data points?

• Use a logarithmic scale

• Increase the interval between tick marks unevenly

• Start both axes at zero

• Use gridlines

Tags

CCSS.HSN.Q.A.1

If a graph skips years on the x-axis, what misleading effect can this have?

• It makes the trend appear more consistent

• It can hide periods of decline or growth

• It makes the graph easier to read

• It has no effect

What is a sign that a graph may be omitting important data points?

• All data points are labeled

• The graph only shows selected years or categories

• The graph uses a consistent scale

• The graph includes a legend

• The increase appears less significant

• The increase appears more dramatic than it actually is

• The graph is more accurate

• The x-axis is misleading

If a bar graph uses images instead of bars and the images are not proportional to the data, what is the result?

• The graph is easier to understand

• The data may be misrepresented

• The graph is more accurate

• The scale is clearer

What should you check first to determine if a graph is misleading?

• The color scheme

• The source of the data

• The scales and axes

• The font size

Why is it important to compare different graph types when analyzing data?

• Some graph types are always misleading

• Different graph types can highlight or hide trends

• Only bar graphs are accurate

• Pie charts are never useful

The table shows the types of sandwiches sold at a deli yesterday. One customer bought half the peanut butter sandwiches and half the grilled cheese sandwiches that were sold. Each sandwich cost $6. How much did the customer pay? (a)  

• $24
• $42
• $84
• $18

Tags

CCSS.7.EE.B.3

Students at Southampton Middle School choose different types of food at lunch. Which type of graph is best for showing the percentages of each food chosen?​ (a)  

• circle graph/pie chart
• bar graph
• line graph