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Graphing Country Populations with Logs

This document discusses using logarithmic scaling to graph population data from multiple countries on a bar chart. It provides a table with the populations of several countries ranging from China with over 1.3 billion people to Vatican City with only 800 people. To effectively display this wide range of values on a graph, the document recommends adding a column to calculate the log base 10 of each population value and then creating the bar chart using the logged data rather than the raw population numbers. This allows all countries to be visible on the same scale.

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juliatsygan
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6K views1 page

Graphing Country Populations with Logs

This document discusses using logarithmic scaling to graph population data from multiple countries on a bar chart. It provides a table with the populations of several countries ranging from China with over 1.3 billion people to Vatican City with only 800 people. To effectively display this wide range of values on a graph, the document recommends adding a column to calculate the log base 10 of each population value and then creating the bar chart using the logged data rather than the raw population numbers. This allows all countries to be visible on the same scale.

Uploaded by

juliatsygan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Using logs for effective graphing

In the table you will find the populations of several countries. Can you make a bar chart to illustrate
this information? Why not?

Country Population
China 1340 000 000
India 1100 000 000
USA 310 000 000
Russia 140 000 000
France 65 000 000
Sweden 9 000 000
Fiji 854 000
Iceland 310 000
Vatican City 800

But we really want to see this on a graph! Logs can help. Make an additional column on the right side
and calculate the log 10 of each country’s population. Now make the bar chart.

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