The graph shows the number of fish in a lake. Explain why the graph is misleading. What might people believe because of the graph? The intervals on the horizontal axis are not equal. People might believe that the number of fish decreased between 2000 and 2005. Actually, the number of fish increased between 2000 and 2005. The intervals on the horizontal axis are not equal. People might believe that the number of fish fluctuates constantly. However, the number of fish grew steadily for about 20 years before a dramatic decrease. The numbers in the graph do not add to 100. People might believe that the number of fish decreased. The description of the scale on the vertical axis is in thousands of fish. People might believe that the number of fish increased by 3 fish between 1980 and 1990. Actually, the change between 1980 and 1990 was 3000 fish.