Misleading Graphs Statistics Example 2
Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.
Example 2
mediumA pictograph compares two companies' profits. Company X uses a small money bag symbol and Company Y uses a money bag symbol that is twice as tall AND twice as wide (so 4 times the area). Company Y's profit is actually only twice Company X's. How is this misleading?
Solution
- 1 Step 1: The symbol for Company Y is twice as tall and twice as wide, giving it times the area of Company X's symbol.
- 2 Step 2: Since our eyes perceive size based on area (not just height), Company Y's profit appears 4 times larger than Company X's.
- 3 Step 3: But the actual profit is only 2 times larger. The graph exaggerates the difference by a factor of 2 because area scales quadratically with linear dimensions.
Answer
The graph is misleading because doubling both dimensions of the symbol quadruples its area, making a 2× difference look like a 4× difference.
When symbols in pictographs are scaled in two dimensions, the area grows quadratically. A symbol that is times taller and wider has times the area. This visual distortion can make differences appear much larger than they really are.
About Misleading Graphs
Misleading graphs are data visualizations that distort the truth through techniques like truncated axes, inconsistent scales, cherry-picked time ranges, or manipulated aspect ratios to create false impressions and lead viewers to wrong conclusions.
Learn more about Misleading Graphs →More Misleading Graphs Examples
Example 1 easy
A bar graph shows Company A's sales at 100 and Company B's sales at 110, but the y-axis starts at 95
Example 3 mediumA line graph shows monthly website visits over a year, but the x-axis is not evenly spaced — January
Example 4 hardA politician presents a pie chart showing their party received 45% of votes, but the 3D perspective