Page 86 - Krugmans Economics for AP Text Book_Neat

figure A.10

Bar Graph Changes in the Number of Unemployed by Race (2001–2002)
A bar graph measures a variable by using Percent change
bars of various heights or lengths. This bar in number of Change in number
unemployed of unemployed
graph shows the percent change in the
number of unemployed workers between
2001 and 2002, indicated separately for
White, Black or African-American, and Asian White 24% 1,168,000
workers.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Black or
African- 20% 277,000
American

Asian 35% 101,000

Bar graphs use bars of various heights or lengths to indicate values of a variable. In
the bar graph in Figure A.10, the bars show the percent change in the number of un-
employed workers in the United States from 2001 to 2002, indicated separately for
White, Black or African-American, and Asian workers. Exact values of the variable that
is being measured may be written at the end of the bar, as in this figure. For instance,
the number of unemployed Asian workers in the United States increased by 35% be-
tween 2001 and 2002. But even without the precise values, comparing the heights or
lengths of the bars can give useful insight into the relative magnitudes of the different
values of the variable.

44 section I Basic Economic Concepts