As discussed previously, when looking at graphs, one needs to pay close attention to certain aspects of the graph. The overall pattern is the first thing you must notice. What is the shape? Where is the center? Is it spread out, or compact? Is it symmetric? Or skewed to one side or another? Skewed left is when the left side of the distribution goes out much farther than the right side, and skewed right is the opposite. Are there numbers in the data set that lie outside the general assimilation of the distribution? These are called outliers.
Taking special note of all these things will allow you to better understand characteristics of the data set and see what kind of patterns and trends are occurring. Noticing these things will allow you to see what is going on in the present, but also allow you to predict the future. How do you think the meteorologists do it? It isn't magic!! Much of it is statistics!!
