Question

the graph to the right compares teaching salaries of women and men at private colleges and universities. what impression does the graph create? does the graph depict the data fairly? if not, construct a graph that depicts the data fairly. if the graph does not depict the data fairly, which graph below does?
a. bar graph: salaries ($) 0,20000,40000,60000,80000; women (red) and men (blue) bars
b. bar graph: salaries ($) 0,20000,40000,60000,80000; women (red) and men (blue) bars
c. bar graph: salaries ($) 52500,60000,67500,75000; women (red) and men (blue) bars
d. the graph depicts the data fairly

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the original graph

The original graph (right - hand side) has a y - axis that starts from 50000 instead of 0. This misrepresents the difference in salaries between men and women. It makes the difference in bar heights seem larger than it actually is because the vertical scale is truncated. So the original graph does not depict the data fairly. It creates an impression that the salary difference between men and women is larger than it actually is.

Step2: Analyze Option A

Option A has a y - axis that starts from 0. But looking at the bar heights, the red bar (women) and blue bar (men) heights seem to be misrepresented in terms of the actual salary values. The red bar in option A is too short compared to what the actual data (when we consider the correct scale) should be.

Step3: Analyze Option B

Option B also has a y - axis that starts from 0, but the bar heights are not in line with the actual salary relationship. The blue bar (men) and red bar (women) heights do not accurately represent the data.

Step4: Analyze Option C

Option C has a y - axis with more detailed and appropriate markings (52500, 60000, 67500, 75000). The bar heights for women (red) and men (blue) are in proportion to the actual salary difference. The scale starts from a value that is close to the minimum salary (around 52500 for women) and the intervals are such that the difference in bar heights accurately represents the difference in salaries between men and women.

Step5: Analyze Option D

Since the original graph truncates the y - axis (starts from 50000 instead of 0), it does not depict the data fairly. So option D is incorrect.

Answer:

First, the original graph does not depict the data fairly. It creates a misleading impression that the salary difference between men and women is larger than it actually is (because the y - axis is truncated, starting from 50000 instead of 0). The graph that depicts the data fairly is Option C.