Idea 17of 22Builds onBars need a scale that starts at 0
3-D bars are hard to read
Why do flat bars beat fancy 3-D bars?
Today you'll discover
- what the extra depth adds
- why one bar gives two readings
- what to ask for instead
Think firstFavourite recess activity, drawn in 3-D
Why is this 3-D graph harder to read than a flat one?
Decide first, then press Next. Try to line up a bar's top with the scale.
The recess bar graph drawn with 3-D bars: each bar has a slanted top and a side. Dashed lines run from Soccer's front top edge to 12 on the scale and from its back top edge to 13. Then the same data as flat bars with the values 12, 8, 5 and 3. The last step shows walk, bus and car totals as 3-D bars.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
3-D bars add a second edge to read, so flat bars are clearer.
Easy to get wrong3-D drawings can also tilt the bars, so bars at the front look bigger than bars at the back.
ClearerPrint the value on each bar. Then nobody has to guess which edge lines up with the scale.
Key word
- 3-D graph
- a graph drawn to look solid, with tops and sides on its bars
Ready to use it?
- Explain why a 3-D graph is hard to read.
- Redraw a 3-D graph as flat bars.