Understand one statistic in the news

Pick a number in a story and ask what it really means.

Why it helps

Numbers can mislead without context. Asking compared to what and out of how many builds data sense.

How to do it

1. Choose a statistic.
2. Ask what it counts and compared to what.
3. Find the original source.

Make it easier

Ask 'out of how many?'

Make it harder

Rework it as a percentage or rate.