Table X below contains data on the distribution of Groundnut production in four regions of country M in the year 2013. Use the data in the table to answer t...

Answer Details

(a) Producing the dot map

On a dot map each dot stands for a fixed quantity, here 1 dot = 20,000 metric tonnes. Divide each region's output by 20,000 to find the number of dots to place inside that region on the map of country M:

Draw all dots the same size and spread them evenly within each region's boundary (more dots where output is larger, so region B is most crowded and region D least). Add a title and a key stating that one dot represents 20,000 metric tonnes.

(b) Three disadvantages of dot maps

1. They are time-consuming and tedious to draw, since every dot must be counted out and placed accurately.
2. It is difficult to read exact values from the map, because the reader must count the dots and multiply, and closely spaced dots are hard to count.
3. Choosing the dot value is tricky: if the value is too small the map is overcrowded and dots merge, and if too large small quantities cannot be shown, so the map can give a misleading impression of the true distribution within a region.