GRAPHING BASICS
WHAT 4 THINGS ARE NEEDED TO
CREATE A GRAPH
1.X Axis labeled
2. Y axis labeled
3. Title
4. Key
VARIOUS TYPES OF GRAPHS
Graph Type Advantages
Disadvantages
Bar
1. CAN COMPARE MORE THAN
ONE SET OF DATA AT A TIME
2.VISUALLY APPEALING
1. CAN NOT SHOW
PERCENTAGES AS PART
OF A WHOLE
Line
1. CAN COMPARE MORE THAN
ONE SET OF DATA AT A TIME
2. ABLE TO SHOW SHARP
DIFFERENCES IN DATA BOTH
INCLINES AND DECLINES
1. CAN NOT SHOW
PERCENTAGES AS PART
OF A WHOLE.
VARIOUS TYPES OF GRAPHS
• What is the IV?
• What is the DV?
VARIOUS TYPES OF GRAPHS
Graph Type Advantages
Disadvantages
Scatter Plot
1.ABLE TO MAKE PREDICTIONS OF
DATA NOT ON GRAPH
2. ABLE TO ESTIMATE POSSIBLE
FUTURE DATA POINTS
1. NOT VISUALLY
APPEALING
2. CAN NOT SHOW
PERCENTAGES AS PART
OF A WHOLE
Pie Chart
1. VISUALLY APPEALING
2. CAN SHOW PERCENTAGES AS
PART OF A WHOLE
1. CAN ONLY GRAPH
ONE SET OF DATA
VARIOUS TYPES OF GRAPHS
DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL AND
INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL
GRAPHS
Directly Proportional
Inversely Proportional
As the independent
variable increases, the
dependent variable
increases as well.
As the independent
variable increases, the
dependent variable
decreases.
PREDICTING DATA ON A GRAPH
• Graphs are a useful tool in science. The visual characteristics of a
graph make trends in data easy to see.
• One of the most valuable uses for graphs is to "predict" data that
is not measured on the graph.
• Extrapolate: extending the graph, along the same slope, above or below
measured data.
• Interpolate: predicting data between two measured points on the graph.
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A
GRAPH
1. Identify the variables
a. Independent variable
-Typically goes on the X – axis (horizontal)
i.e. Time
-Should be on the left side of a
data table
b. Dependent variable
-Typically goes on the Y – axis (vertical)
-Should be on the right side of a data table
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A
GRAPH
1. Identify the variables
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A
GRAPH
2. Determine the scale of the Graph
a. Determine a scale (numerical value for each
square) that best fits the range. Must include
lowest and highest point.
b. These points should not all be exactly the
same as the data that has been collected.
c. Determine if your graph is going to go by
increasing increments of 2’s, 5’s, 20’s etc.
d. Spread the graph to use MOST of the
available space
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A
GRAPH
• Determine the scale of the Graph
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A
GRAPH
3. Number and Label Each Axis
a. This tells what the lines on your graph represent.
Label each axis with appropriate units.
4. Plot the Data Points
a. Plot each data value on the graph.
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A
GRAPH
5. Draw the Graph
a. Depends on the graph you are making (i.e. draw
curve to fit the points, best fit line, bars)
6. Title the Graph
a. Your title should clearly tell what the graph is
about.
b. If your graph has more than one set of data,
provide a key to identify the different lines.
WHAT IS THE GRAPH TELLING US?