Misleading Graphs Worksheet

Explore how graphs can be misleading and learn to identify common techniques used to distort data representation.

Grade 7 Math Data and GraphingMisleading Graphs

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Includes

Multiple Choice2 Short AnswerTrue / FalseFill in the BlanksMatching

Standards

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.7.SP.B.4

Topics

mathdatagraphsmisleadinggrade7

8 sections · Free to use · Printable

Misleading Graphs

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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Pay close attention to how graphs are presented.

1. Which of the following is a common way to make a graph misleading?

Using a consistent scale on both axes

Starting the y-axis at a non-zero value

Labeling all axes clearly

Using appropriate graph titles

2. The bar graph below shows the sales of two different products over four months.

What makes this graph potentially misleading?

3. A graph that uses pictograms where the size of the pictogram is scaled (instead of the number of pictograms) can be misleading.

True

False

4. When the y-axis of a graph does not start at zero, it can the perceived difference between data points.

5. Consider the following line graph showing temperature changes.

If the y-axis started at 25°C instead of 0°C, how would the appearance of the temperature fluctuations change?

6. Match the misleading graph technique with its description.

1. Truncated Y-axis

a. Using images where larger images imply disproportionately larger values.

2. Unequal Interval Scale

b. The vertical axis does not start at zero, exaggerating differences.

3. Pictogram Scaling

c. The distance between numbers on an axis is not consistent.