MA31-07 Maths Coming soon
Recognising misleading graphs
MA31-07
This lesson is coming soon.
In this lesson
Identify the specific graphical feature (e.g. a truncated or non-zero-start vertical axis) that causes a graph to visually exaggerate a trend, and explain in a full sentence how that feature produces the effect.
What it covers
- Recognising a truncated or non-zero-start vertical axis and explaining its exaggerating effect on the apparent size of a difference or the steepness of a trend
- Recognising other common misrepresentation mechanisms at the same reasoning level: inconsistent scale intervals, and missing axis labels or units
- Writing a full two-part explanation (name the specific feature, then state its effect) rather than a bare observation that a graph 'looks misleading'
Key words
For: OCR GCSE J560
On the specification
| Board | Spec | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| OCR GCSE J560 | 12.03b | Recognise graphical misrepresentation through incorrect scales, labels, etc. |
For teachers
This GCSE Maths lesson teaches recognising misleading graphs. By the end, students should be able to identify the specific graphical feature (e.g. a truncated or non-zero-start vertical axis) that causes a graph to visually exaggerate a trend, and explain in a full sentence how that feature produces the effect. It works through two worked examples and the mistakes examiners report.