A truncated graph is a graph where part of the one of the axes has been cut off or truncated. In a bar​ graph, this truncation causes the bars to be out of proportion and hence creates a misleading impression.

One of the ways a graph can be distorted is by truncating an axis. This happens when an axis is shortened because one or both of its ends gets cut off. Sometimes a distortion like this is really obvious.

Y-axis truncation breaks the visual conventions of bar charts, as the relative ratio of heights be- tween two bars is no longer proportional to their difference in value (a bar that is twice as high may not represent a value that is twice as large).

A y-axis is the vertical axis on the Cartesian coordinate plane. A y-axis is the line on a graph that is drawn from bottom to top. This axis is parallel to which coordinates are measured. The numbers placed on the y-axis are called y-coordinates.

Graphs may be misleading through being excessively complex or poorly constructed. Even when constructed to accurately display the characteristics of their data, graphs can be subject to different interpretation, or unintended kind of data can seemingly and ultimately erroneously be derived.

Good graphs support accurate estimation of the quantities represented. To estimate quantities, the reader needs to understand the scale used to represent quantity on the graph. Use a single linear scale whenever possible. Use a common scale if a single scale is not possible, for example, when using panels.

Misleading Graphs in Real Life: Overview The “classic” types of misleading graphs include cases where: The Vertical scale is too big or too small, or skips numbers, or doesn’t start at zero. The graph isn’t labeled properly. Data is left out.

The spread is the range of the data. And, the shape describes the type of graph. The four ways to describe shape are whether it is symmetric, how many peaks it has, if it is skewed to the left or right, and whether it is uniform. A graph with a single peak is called unimodal.

Omitting the baseline. Omitting baselines, or the axis of a graph, is one of the most common ways data is manipulated in graphs. This misleading tactic is frequently used to make one group look better than another. Truncating graphs can make something that is not very significant look like a massive difference.

Good charts make us smarter—if we know how to read them. However, they can also deceive us. Charts lie in a variety of ways—displaying incomplete or inaccurate data, suggesting misleading patterns, and concealing uncertainty— or are frequently misunderstood.

The use of a graph will present data in a quick way, lift out the most important facts and will be easily remembered. For those in a computer field, as in networking, the use of graphs can be very useful to measure trafficking to a site. Graphs are used in everyday life, from the local newspaper to the magazine stand.

Graphs are a common method to visually illustrate relationships in the data. The purpose of a graph is to present data that are too numerous or complicated to be described adequately in the text and in less space. Do not, however, use graphs for small amounts of data that could be conveyed succinctly in a sentence.

All real-life graphs can be used to estimate or read-off values. The actual meaning of the values will depend on the labels and units shown on each axis. Sometimes: the gradient of the line or curve has a particular meaning the -intercept (where the graph crosses the vertical axis) has a particular meaning.

Advantages:

• Graph can be created proportionally to the quantity it needs to represent.
• Displays multiple classes of data in one chart.
• Puts large sums of data into visual form for easy understanding.
• More visually appealing than other graphs.
• Offers easy calculations of data accuracy.
• Requires little explanation.

Graphs are beneficial because they summarize and display information in a manner that is easy for most people to comprehend. Graphs are used in many academic disciplines, including math, hard sciences and social sciences.

You would use:

1. Bar graphs to show numbers that are independent of each other.
2. Pie charts to show you how a whole is divided into different parts.
3. Line graphs show you how numbers have changed over time.
4. Cartesian graphs have numbers on both axes, which therefore allow you to show how changes in one thing affect another.

The major disadvantage of using charts and graphs is that these aids may oversimplify data, which can provide a misleading view of the data. Attempting to correct this can make charts overly complex, which can make their value in aiding a presentation less useful.

Line graph: Advantage: It’s better for seeing the rate clearly. Disadvantage: It’s harder to compare.