--- title: "Off the Number Line: Disclaimer" description: This math cartoon pokes fun at how we interpret stories in graphs and plots. image: https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Education/Archive/Off_the_Number_Line.jpg --- [![](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MIND-logo-2018.jpg?width=1701&height=623&name=MIND-logo-2018.jpg)](http://www.mindresearch.org/) [![mind logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-color2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) [![mind white logo](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/graphics/logos/MIND-logos-white2.svg)](https://www.mindeducation.org/) - [Our Approach](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-approach) - [Why MIND?](https://2024.mindresearch.org/why-math-education) - [Our Research](https://2024.mindresearch.org/our-research) - [Our Patents](https://2024.mindresearch.org/patents) - [Our Impact](https://2024.mindresearch.org/impact) - [Our Partners](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partners) - [Partner Stories](https://2024.mindresearch.org/partner-stories) - Our Programs - [ST Math](http://www.stmath.com/) - [InsightMath](http://www.insightmath.com/) - [MathMINDs](https://www.mindresearch.org/mathminds) - [Life at MIND](https://2024.mindresearch.org/careers) - Resources - [Blog](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog) - [Math Discourse](https://2024.mindresearch.org/puzzletalks) - [Podcast](https://2024.mindresearch.org/edtech-podcast) - [News](https://2024.mindresearch.org/news) - [Activities](https://2024.mindresearch.org/stem-resources) - [Donate](https://store.mindresearch.org/pages/donate) **Student privacy****:** learn more about our commitment to keeping students safe [Read More](https://www.mindresearch.org/privacy-policy) ![MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/graphics/headers/_blog-headers/MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png?width=2000&height=667&name=MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5.png "MIND-on-Math_Blog-Header-5") Category Community Teaching & Learning Technology & Games Research & Outcomes Neuroscience Celebrations & Successes [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/237516/a35fb57d-2960-4554-a0f3-e7bb5946fc70) [Mathematics](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/topic/mathematics) # Off the Number Line: Disclaimer By [Matthew Peterson and James Huang](https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/author/matthew-peterson-and-james-huang) - - - - - [mailto:?subject=Off%20the%20Number%20Line:%20Disclaimer&body=Off%20the%20Number%20Line:%20Disclaimer%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/math-cartoon-disclaimer](mailto:?subject=Off%20the%20Number%20Line:%20Disclaimer&body=Off%20the%20Number%20Line:%20Disclaimer%20https://2024.mindresearch.org/blog/math-cartoon-disclaimer) - **![Disclaimer math cartoon](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Photos/OTNL_Disclaimer.jpg?width=650&name=OTNL_Disclaimer.jpg "Disclaimer math cartoon")** **Interviewer:** Too funny. You see those disclaimers on TV shows and websites. Now, even data points on graphs need them. **Cartoonist:** Graphs and plots convey stories and each data point helps tell those stories. Here the disclaimer is on an apparent outlier. Many people consider **outliers** as data points that go against the overall story in an extreme way. But it’s important to realize that figures can tell multiple stories and sometimes outliers are telling the more interesting story. **Usain Bolt** is an outlier who helped us rethink body mechanics and how fast a person can run. Many scientists believe life on Earth is an outlier. That’s certainly a more interesting story…at least to earthlings. **Interviewer:** You make some good points! **Cartoonist:** Don’t tell me that was a pun. **Interviewer:** Hahaha. Looking forward to the next [Off the Number Line](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/precision-accuracy-math-cartoon) math cartoon!   *What can you do when you major in mathematics? See what [a day in the life of a mathematician](http://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-mathematician) is like!* ![Matthew Peterson and James Huang](https://2024.mindresearch.org/hubfs/Blog/Authors/MIND-profile-600x600.png) ### About the Author Matthew Peterson, Ph.D., is Co-founder and Chief Research & Development Officer at the MIND Research Institute. 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