Exercise 7: How To Lie With Maps

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Hartford Area School Racial Diversity (2009-2010 Academic School Year)

Hartford Area School Racial Division (2009-2010 Academic School Year)

Using the data from the racial composition of students in the Hartford area, both of the data visualizations are mathematically accurate towards representing the racial composition of Hartford area schools during the 2009-2010 academic school year. However, each visualization depicts a different story because of the different ways the maps are designed. In the first data visualization, the visualization demonstrates a seemingly racially diverse Hartford area. In order to demonstrate a racially diverse Hartford area, the legend is divided into many different shadings, each demonstrating a different percentage of minorities present in each area. The process of increasing the amount of buckets used in the visualization can allow for more shadings to be represented in the graph. The more shadings that are represented, the more racially diverse the area seems. In the second visualization, however, there is a different picture painted with the same data. Since the second visualization only has three buckets incorporated, the map then limits more data to be shown. Thus, using larger gaps in the legend would produce sharper racial divisions among districts.

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Veronica Armendariz

Currently a student at Trinity College with a strong interest in teaching mathematics, volunteering, and tutoring.