Log and linear axes


Although these two graphs look different, they show exactly the same data.

Both show typical salaries for different classes of job, but on different axes.

Note that the maximum on the salary axis is £1 million (1000K) in both cases, but the logarithmic graph starts at £10,000, because zero cannot appear on a logarithmic axis.

With the sliders, you can add the same amount to everybody's salary, or give everyone the same percentage increase.

What happens when you add a fixed amount? What happens when you add a percentage?

It has been argued that the log axis better represents the effect pay rises on individual happiness.

How much happier would you expect these people to be if you gave them each £10K?

Fixed pay raise

raises all salaries by a fixed amount:

£ 

Percentage pay raise

raises all salaries by the same percentage of the original:
%