When Graphs Lie
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Objective
I can identify how graphs and statistics can be used to mislead.
Part 1 of 4
Warm-up video
TED-Ed · 4:10Vetted channel
We don't generate video — this one is by TED-Ed on YouTube. The practice questions and exit ticket below were drafted by AI for this objective, and every question is editable in the teacher guide.
Part 2 of 4
Key concepts
3 concepts
- 1
One of the most common ways graphs misrepresent data is by distorting the scale, often by zooming in on a small portion of the y-axis.
- 2
Graphs can manipulate the x-axis by using an inconsistent scale or by cherry picking a time range to exclude important events.
- 3
Even if a graph itself is accurate, it can be misleading if it leaves out relevant data or if the viewer doesn't understand the full significance of what's being presented.
Part 3 of 4
Practice
10 questions
Which technique involves zooming in on a small portion of the y-axis to exaggerate a difference between data points?
Describe how the Chevy truck advertisement graph misled viewers regarding the reliability of their trucks compared to Toyota.
Part 4 of 4
Exit ticket
Quick comprehension check
“A local news channel presents a bar graph comparing the approval ratings of two city council members. The graph's y-axis, labeled 'Approval Rating (%)', starts at 75% and goes up to 80%. Council Member A's bar reaches 79%, and Council Member B's bar reaches 76%. Visually, Council Member A's bar appears to be three times taller than Council Member B's bar. Explain how this graph is misleading and why.”
Sample answer included in the free materials
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