Read the Scale First

Start with two values: Store A is 42 and Store B is 45. Before judging the gap, read the value axis. This chart runs from 40 to 46, with tick labels at 40, 42, 44, and 46. The exact difference is 45 - 42 = 3. Say 3 units higher; do not let the zoomed axis decide that the difference is automatically big.

A tiny chart-reading step: read the axis range before deciding whether a difference is big.

highlighted = computed this step

Start with two values

Start with 2 pinned values.

pinned values\text{pinned values}
Pinned ValuesitemvalueStore A42Store B45

Read the axis range

Read the value-axis range before judging the visual gap.

axis range first\text{axis range first}
Axis Range Checkchart partreadoutaxis minimum40axis maximum46tick labels40, 42, 44, 46actual difference3

Read values on that scale

Place both values on the chosen value scale.

values on scale\text{values on scale}
Values on a 40 to 46 Axisitemvalue4042444642Store A45Store B

State the bounded difference

Readout: Store B is 3 units higher than Store A, not automatically big.

bounded difference\text{bounded difference}
Difference Readout With Scaleitemreadoutaxis range40 to 46difference45 - 42 = 3claim3 units, not automatically big