How are a cartogram and a graduated symbol map similar?

A cartogram and a graduated symbol map are similar because both are designed to represent numerical data that allows for comparison between different geographic areas. In a cartogram, geographic areas are distorted in size according to the variable being represented, commonly population or economic metrics, effectively highlighting data in a visual manner that emphasizes the magnitude of these variables. On the other hand, a graduated symbol map employs symbols of varying sizes to indicate the relative value of a particular data set, such as population size or income level, at specific locations.

This similarity lies in their focus on portraying quantitative data that can be compared across regions, although they use different visual techniques to achieve this. Both tools help users understand complex data in a geographic context, making them effective for analyzing spatial relationships and distributions.