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Simplify a complex taskGuide
Read a graph’s scale before judging its story
Interpret provided axis and bar data, calculate visible differences and identify a truncated-axis effect.
Illustrative resourceNot tool-testedAdults who want a practical, low-stakes way to read a graph’s scale before judging its story
What you’re working towards
Interpret provided axis and bar data, calculate visible differences and identify a truncated-axis effect. The worked result is a written example for practice; the AI steps have not been tested.
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Make a start
One step at a time.
3 steps
Start with the synthetic worked example or other non-sensitive inputs. Run one prompt at a time in your chosen AI tool. Replace any bracketed placeholders with the requested material, check each reply, and supply the source or earlier outputs that step needs. Paste them again if the tool lacks that context.
Start with the synthetic example, then adapt each prompt to your task.
01
Open a chat and paste the example
Open https://chatgpt.com and choose New chat. Copy every line under Input in this guide into the message box. Then add the prompt below (the instructions telling the assistant what to do) and send both together. Expect a written response shaped like the example under Output. The wording may differ. If the assistant asks for information already in the input, point to that line; if a necessary fact is missing, keep it unknown rather than guessing.
Your starting prompt
Explain the text-described graph using only the supplied values and axes. Calculate the actual difference, the percentage relative to A and each visible bar segment above 98. Distinguish the visual doubling from the real count ratio. Add no causal explanation or claim of image inspection.
02
Check the specific result
Verify actual counts are 100 and 102, while visible segment lengths are 2 and 4. The percentage difference is 2%, not 100%. No visual inspection or causal claim should appear. Compare it with the Input yourself. If the response fails a check, paste the correction prompt below into the same chat. Recheck the corrected version before saving it.
Your starting prompt
Recalculate actual and baseline-relative differences separately. Correct any statement that B has twice the visitors. Keep 2 visitors, 2% and the truncated 98 baseline distinct, and remove invented causes.
03
Try it with your own example
Open a new chat. Copy the prompt below, then replace [PASTE YOUR INPUT HERE] with your own non-sensitive facts and rules. Include the kinds of details listed under Requirements. Send the whole message. Expect the same kind of result as this guide, using your values. Compare every name, number and rule with your input. If something differs, point to the exact mismatch and ask for a corrected complete answer. Save only a version you have checked.
Your starting prompt
Explain my text-described graph using only its supplied axes, baseline and values below. Calculate the difference, the percentage using the stated comparison base, and each visible bar segment above the baseline. Separate visual height ratios from actual value ratios. Do not invent causes or claim to inspect an image.
Use only the new input below. If a fact needed to finish is missing, ask me for it before choosing an answer.
MY INPUT
[PASTE YOUR INPUT HERE]
Optional: improve the result
Explain a clearer alternative
Describe how the same values would appear with a zero baseline without generating a chart. This extension uses the worked example. Return to that example chat, or paste its input and your checked example answer into a new chat first. Do not apply its sample values unchanged to your own input.
Advanced prompt
Describe a zero-baseline version of the same two-bar graph. State the bar values and a suitable plain caption. Explain what impression changes and what underlying data remain exactly the same. Do not invent new measurements.
Show, then try
See the shape of the result.
This input is synthetic. The output is a written illustration of the intended result, not a verified AI-tool run.
01 / The starting point
Synthetic input
Made-up example for practice.
Made-up graph-reading exercise; the graph is described in text, not supplied as an image. It compares visitor counts for two fictional exhibitions: A = 100 visitors; B = 102 visitors. Both bars begin at a vertical-axis baseline of 98, with axis ticks 98, 100, 102 and 104. The horizontal axis names A and B. There is no uncertainty interval or explanation of attendance differences. Task: explain actual count difference, percentage difference relative to A, and why the visible B segment is twice the visible A segment. Do not infer causes or say B had twice as many visitors.
Copies text only. For image or file tasks, use the source files named in the steps too.
Written example for practice; not a recorded AI response.
Read the axes first
The vertical scale starts at 98 visitors, not zero. The horizontal axis identifies the two exhibitions.
Actual difference: 102 − 100 = 2 visitors.
Percentage increase relative to A: 2 ÷ 100 × 100 = 2%.
Visible bar segments above the baseline
A: 100 − 98 = 2 scale units.
B: 102 − 98 = 4 scale units.
That makes the visible B segment twice A’s, even though the actual visitor count is only 2% higher. B did not have twice as many visitors.
Careful description: “B recorded 102 visitors versus A’s 100, a difference of two.” The data supply no reason for the difference.
These checks use the worked example and its particular facts. With your own material, check your actual names, numbers, sources and rules; do not reuse the sample’s values as the answer.
Unsaved checks stay in this tab and reset when you reload. If you choose Save guide, its current example checkmarks are kept in this browser when storage is available.
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A few things to watch for.
Looking only at bar lengths can hide a nonzero baseline. Read the axis labels first.
A graph comparison does not explain why values differ, even if the pattern looks striking.