Three-Dimensional Bar Graph of Annual Profit Flow

Bar graphs are a very familiar form of graphic, often used to help compare relative magnitudes. Perhaps because of the common use of bar graphs in newspapers and other general-interest publications, most people find this form of graphic rather non-intimidating and easy-to-understand. But are they really so simple to understand as they seem? Let's test the impression about their easy intelligibility by considering a few examples of a type that commonly appear in a litigation context.


Presented above is a trial exhibit in the form of a bar graph that depicts the growth of a company's profits, expressed in millions of dollars. The indidividual bars show annual profits for each of the six years from 1978 to 1983. Examine the trend of profits over these years, paying particular attention to the first and last years, and form an opinion as to the approximate percentage increase over the period in question. When you have done this, press the button to continue to the next page of this demonstration.

Continue with next page of this demonstration.

[*] Goetz Home Page [*] Lawyers' Tools Page [*] General Index

Copyright © 1996, Chas. J. Goetz. Last revised: 10/03/96. 5,179 ;2186.