Creating a Data Table
Choosing the Right Graph
Creating A Graph
Data Tables
Data Tables organize the
data collected from
observations and
experiments.
They are useful because
the information is
organized.
Growth of Plant Over One-Week Period
Day of the Week
Height in cm
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
5
7
9
12
16
21
29
Data Tables
She begins her data table
by creating columns for
the data she intends to
collect.
She needs two columns
because she will be recording
time and temperature.
In this experiment, Amy
will be collecting data as she
heats Liquid A. She will be
recording the temperature
once every minute for 5
minutes.
Data Tables
Amy labeled her
columns with a word or
phrase that describes
the data.
She included
appropriate
units.
Now she is
ready to
record the
data.
She added a title that
represents the data she
will collect.
Change in the Temperature of Liquid A
Over a 5-Minute Period
Time in Minutes
1
2
3
4
5
Temperature Degrees Celsius
Data Tables
Tables are perfect for recording data because
they keep your data organized. However, in
data tables, trends and patterns may not be so
easily seen…
Change in the Temperature of Liquid A
Over A 5-Minute Period
Here is Amy’s
data. How easy is
it to spot the
trend in
temperature?
Time in Minutes
1
2
3
4
5
Temperature Degrees Celsius
5
23
42
48
50
Graphs
Temperature Change of Liquid A Over
5 Minutes
60
de
gr
ee
sc
Degrees Celsius
A graph, which is a
picture of the data,
allows a quick look at
the data.
Usually the trend is
apparent to the viewer
immediately.
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
Time in Minutes
5
Graphs
A title describes the data
that has been collected.
Temperature Change of Liquid A Over
5 Minutes
60
de
gr
ee
sc
Degrees Celsius
By looking at the
axis labels, which
name the variables in
the experiment, you
can see that the
temperature
increases as time
goes by.
Axis Labels
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
Time in Minutes
5
Choose the Right Graph
Bar Graph
There are three
commonly used
graphs:
Line Graph
Pie Graph
- is used for
comparing data
such as:
types of cars,
Number of Cars
A Bar Graph…
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Make and Number of Cars Found In
the Parking Lot
Ford
or colors of
balloons at a party.
Chevy
Dodge
Honda
Make of Car
Toyota
Other
-is used for seeing
the changes over
time such as:
growth of a plant
over six weeks,
Height in Centimeters
A Line Graph…
Growth of Plant Over a Six-Week
Period
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
or the number of
boxes of cereal sold
in a month.
2
3
Week
4
5
6
A Circle or Pie Graph…
- is used for showing
percentages such as
parts of a whole.
Examples might be the
percentages of the
different elements that
make up our air,
or the percentages of
various types of items
you buy with your
allowance.
Elements That Make Up Our Air
Other
1%
Oxygen
21%
Nitrogen
78%
Creating A Line or Bar
Graph
For line and bar graphs, you
will have an x- and y-axis.
y-axis
The independent variable is
graphed along the x-axis and
the dependent variable is
graphed along the y-axis.
x-axis
Remember:
Type of Food
The independent variable is
the variable that gets tested.
It is the variable that is chosen.
Month
Time
Amount
of
Fertilizer
Grade
Level
And…
The dependent variable is
the variable that reacts to
the independent variable.
It depends upon the
independent variable .
Temperature
Growth of
Plant
Number of
Students
Preferring a
Certain Food
Number
of
Umbrellas
Sold
Percentage
Taking
Algebra
Line Graph
After you have identified the independent and
dependent variables, you are ready to choose a scale for
the x- and y-axes.
In this experiment, the
temperature was
recorded each minute for
15 minutes.
60
50
40
30
The scale values are evenly
spaced intervals and the
chosen range is able to
accommodate all of the data.
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Line Graph
60
Degrees Celsius
The scale chosen for
time was 1-minute
intervals. The scale
chosen for temperature
was 10-degree
intervals.
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Time in Minutes
Axis labels are added to
identify the variables.
Line Graph
An appropriate title completes the graph. A good title
describes what is being displayed and should include both
the independent and dependent variables.
50
Degrees Celsius
These
guidelines are
also useful for
creating bar
graphs.
Temperature Change of Liquid B
Over a 15-Minute Period
60
40
30
20
10
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Time in Minutes
Bar Graph
A scale of evenlyspaced intervals is
used.
Types and Numbers of Cars Found In
the Parking Lot of Pike Middle School
90
Number of Cars
The independent
variable is
displayed on the
x-axis.
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Ford
Labels are in place
and a descriptive
title is added.
Chevy
Dodge
Honda
Make of Car
Toyota
Other
Creating A Pie Graph
Data converted to
percentages can be
shown on a pie, or
circle graph.
The whole circle is equal
to 100%, so each slice of
‘pie’ varies in size
according to the data, and
corresponds to the
percentage of the whole.
The independent variable is
what the pie represents, while
the dependent variable is the
size of each slice.
Creating A Pie Graph
A pie graph
should have a title
which describes
the independent
variable.
Elements That Make Up Our Air
Other
1%
Oxygen
21%
Nitrogen
78%
Each slice of the pie should be labeled or color-coded
so the dependent variables and their corresponding
percentages can be identified.
A Line Graph From Start To Finish
George collected the mass of
his pet frog every other day
for 2 weeks.
What is the independent variable in
George’s activity?
That’s right! The day of the week is the independent
variable. George chose to take the mass every other
day. He could have chosen every day, or once a week.
A Line Graph From Start To Finish
What is the dependent variable
in George’s activity?
Yes! The mass is the dependent
variable. The mass depends on which
day the frog is being weighed.
A Line Graph From Start To Finish
Before George begins taking data,
he must prepare a data table to
record his data.
He draws a 2-column table. The left side is for the
independent variable. The right-hand column is for the
dependent variable.
Day of the Week
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Sunday
Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday
Monday
Mass of Frog in grams
Notice how the
column labels
include the units.
A Line Graph From Start To Finish
Now George is ready to weigh
his frog and record the data.
Mass of My Pet Frog Over a 2Week Period
Day of the Week
Mass of Frog in grams
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Sunday
Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday
Monday
89
91
92
94
97
99
101
101
Here is
George’s
completed
data table.
Graphing From Start To Finish
You can tell from the data table that the
frog has gained mass in the 2-week period.
But, the data will be more readily
interpreted if we create a picture of the
data.
Mass of My Frog Over a 2-Week Period
Day of the Week
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Sunday
Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday
Monday
Mass of Frog in grams
89
91
92
94
97
99
101
101
Graphing From Start To Finish
George chose to create a line graph
because the data changed over time.
George planned to locate the day of
the week (independent variable) on
the x-axis and the mass of his frog
(dependent variable) on the y-axis.
Graphing From Start To Finish
George chose an appropriate scale of 2-gram
intervals for the y-axis.
Notice the absence of 0-80 grams. It is
acceptable to create a graph this way.
102
100
98
96
94
92
90
88
86
84
82
George plotted his
points and
connected them
with a line.
Graphing From Start To Finish
George chose a title that describes his
activity.
Mass in Grams
Mass of My Frog Over a 2-Week
Period
102
100
98
96
94
92
90
88
86
84
82
He labeled his axes
and included
units.
Day of the Week
Review
Choose an appropriate
graph to display your data.
Choose an appropriate
scale with evenly-spaced
intervals.
Label the axes, include
units, and create a title
that is descriptive.
Represent the independent
variable on the x-axis ,and the
dependent variable on the
y-axis for line and bar graphs.
Plot your points.
If using a pie graph, use the
independent variable in your
title. Label all ‘slices’ with the
dependent variable and the
percentage.