The above charts illustrate the malleability of statistics; both charts represent identical data. On the first chart, the vertical axis ranges from 40 to 80, the extremes of the data. On the second chart, the vertical axis rages from -10 to 100. The change in scale significantly effects the slope of the graph. The steep slope gives the appearance that the data is changing rapidly while more moderate slope give the impression that the data is relatively stable. The line on the second chart was also smoothed, making the change look even less significant. This exercise demonstrates how easily statistics can be manipulated to give the reader a certain idea. It is also a caution to me, as a reader, to be wary about the presentation of data.