statistics

The goal in statistics is always to accurately describe and represent data and trends.  But sometimes companies, politicians, media, or other groups or individuals misuse statistics by presenting results that – while technically accurate – are exaggerated or misleading.  One reason to study statistics, even if you don’t plan to be a statistician someday, is to be able to identify results that are purposefully misleading so that you can be an informed consumer, voter, etc.

Watch the following video from Khan Academy to see an example of a way a company could use misleading graphs to exaggerate their product.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs-OPF3KEGU 

 Look up an example of an instance where statistics and/or graphs were used in a misleading way.  Explain the situation in your example and explain how the statistics or graphs were presented misleadingly.  Describe a more accurate way that the data or graphs should have been presented and explain how the public may have been affected by the misleading information.  Include a reference to your source.