Understand Misleading Graphs

Introduction:
Most of the students usually make two types of errors that show the way to misleading graphs. These errors are made in bar line graphs and in scatter plots. They pertain to the axes of these graphs.

• missing zero
• missing categories

These are the two types of errors. Let us learn the errors in the graphs with some sample examples.

Missing Zero in the Vertical Axis in Misleading Graphs:

In each bar graph, line graph, or scatter plot, the vertical axis must contain the zero. When zero is not revealed, then the vertical axis is supposed to pinch as a wrecked axis to show the absent part of the scale.
Changing the range of scale on the vertical axis clearly distorts the relative lengths of bars in a bar graph, the shape of line in a line graph, or the shape of the "dot cloud" in the scatter plot.

The vertical axis of every double bar graph, line graph, or scatter plot should hold the zero. When zero is not exposed, then the vertical axis is believed to dash as a broken axis to demonstrate the missing part of the range.

Hope you liked the above explanation. Please leave your comments, if you have any doubts.