Q. 29 - Elementary Statistics

Question

Reshaping the Labor Force. The following graph is based on one that appeared in an Arizona Republic newspaper article entitled "Hand That Rocked Cradle Turns to Work as Women Reshape U.S. Labor Force." The graph depicts the labor force participation rates for the years 1960,1980 , and 2000 .

a. Cover the numbers on the vertical axis of the graph with a piece of paper.
b. Look at the 1960 and 2000 graphs for women, focusing on the 35 to 44-year-old age group. What impression does the graph convey regarding the ratio of the percentages of women in the labor force for 1960 and 2000 ?
c. Now remove the piece of paper from the graph. Use the vertical scale to find the actual ratio of the percentages of 35 - to 44-yearold women in the labor force for 1960 and 2000.
d. Why is the graph potentially misleading?
e. What can be done to make the graph less potentially misleading?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a.Cover the numbers on the vertical axis of the graph with a piece of paper. 

b. we might conclude that the percentage of women in the labor force for 2000 is about 3.5 times that for 1960 . 

c. Not covering up the vertical axis, we would find that the percentage of woman in the labor force for 2000 is about 3.8 times that for 1960 

d. The graph is potentially misleading because it is truncated. Note that the vertical axis begins at 30 rather than at 0 . 

e. To make the graph less potentially misleading start it at 0 instead of at 30 .

Part (a) Step 1. Given information

The given graph depicts the labor force participation rates for the years 1960,1980 , and 2000 . 

Part (a) Step 2.Cover the numbers on the vertical axis of the graph with a piece of paper.

Cover the numbers on the vertical axis of the graph with a piece of paper. 

Part (b) Step 1. Given information

The given  graph depicts the labor force participation rates for the years 1960,1980 , and 2000 .

 

Part (b) Step 2. Look at the 1960 and 2000 graphs for women, focusing on the 35 to 44-year-old age group. What impression does the graph convey regarding the ratio of the percentages of women in the labor force for 1960 and 2000 ?

Having followed the directions in part (a), we might conclude that the percentage of women in the labor force for 2000 is about 3.5 times that for 1960 . 

Part (c) Step 1. Given information

The given graph depicts the labor force participation rates for the years 1960,1980 , and 2000 . 

Part (c) Step 2. Now remove the piece of paper from the graph. Use the vertical scale to find the actual ratio of the percentages of 35 - to 44-yearold women in the labor force for 1960 and 2000.

Not covering up the vertical axis, we would find that the percentage of woman in the labor force for 2000 is about 3.8 times that for 1960 

Part (d) Step 1. Given information

The given graph depicts the labor force participation rates for the years 1960,1980 , and 2000 . 

Part (d) Step 2. Why is the graph potentially misleading?

The graph is potentially misleading because it is truncated. Note that the vertical axis begins at 30 rather than at 0 . 

Part (e) Step 1. Given information

 The given graph depicts the labor force participation rates for the years 1960,1980 , and 2000 . 

Part (e) Step 2. What can be done to make the graph less potentially misleading?

To make the graph less potentially misleading start it at 0 instead of at 30