Given a collection of two data sets: a list of intersection locations and associated “number of accidents.” Which representation is most efficient for communicating the comparative danger of the set of intersections?

Answer 1

One possible representation that is efficient for communicating the comparative danger of the set of intersections is a bar chart or histogram.

By plotting the number of accidents on the y-axis and the intersection locations on the x-axis, a bar chart can visually depict the comparative danger of each intersection. The height of each bar represents the number of accidents, allowing for a quick and intuitive comparison between intersections.

This representation is efficient because it conveys the information in a concise and straightforward manner. It allows viewers to identify the intersections with the highest number of accidents at a glance, facilitating the understanding of the comparative danger. Additionally, it can be easily understood by a wide range of audiences, regardless of their familiarity with data analysis techniques.

Other representations like pie charts or scatter plots could also be used, but a bar chart or histogram is especially well-suited for comparing data points in terms of magnitude, making it effective for communicating the relative danger of intersections based on the number of accidents.