# Why are online log-log plots so inaccurate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-online-log-log-plots-so-inaccurate/682019>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 23, 2014, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-online-log-log-plots-so-inaccurate/682019 "2014-02-23T14:55:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 27

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**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-online-log-log-plots-so-inaccurate/682019/27 "2014-02-24T02:47:55Z")

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> [@yabob](#):
>
> No, they are spaced at equal arc lengths along a meridian (considering the Earth to be spherical). The projection of a line of latitude onto the axis with 0 at the equator will be +/- R\*cos(L) where R is the radius of the Earth and L is the latitude.

To amplify, I should say the projection from a viewpoint at an infinite distance, centered on the equator, which is what is strongly implied by that style of drawing. That should look like this - note the spacing of latitude lines:

> **[File:Orthographic projection SW.jpg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orthographic_projection_SW.jpg)**
>
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Having spun off elliptically into this discussion, I now return you to the main track, oval or otherwise.

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