Graphing a linear set of points:
1. Draw the x axis and y axis along perpendicular lines on
the graph paper such that there will be no less than 15 cm
between farthest two points.
2. Set up the graph so the smallest x and y value are where
each axis meets.(axis does not have to be at zero)
3. Make the largest y value half way up the page and
largest x value at the far right of the page.
4. Number the graph at round intervals.
5. Plot the points on the graph, circle each point.
6. Do the points form a line?
If not go to “11.”
If yes follow instructions 7. - 10.
7. Calculate the equation that best fits the points by linear
regression.
8. Pick two points, on the regression line, as far apart as
possible but still on the graph and place an x at each of
those points.
9. Use those points to draw the line but if the line is not
through the points go back to step 7.
10. Next to the line write the equation and the correlation
coefficient.
11. Draw a curved line that best fits the points.
Online Assistance
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Adding a trendline to an Excel plot
Clemson Physics Lab Tutorials
Using Excel
Graphing data using Excel
Using error bars in Excel
http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/excel/graph.html#5
http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/index.html
http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/excel/index.html
http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/excel/graph.html
http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/excel/advgraph.html#4