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.

Working Men and Women by Age, 1960–2000 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

<25 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 Age group Men 2000 Women 2000 Women 1980 Percentage in the labor force Women 1960

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?