How to Make a Graph

1
How to Make a Graph
2
Elements of a Good Graph

• Title
• Axis Labels with Units!
• Line Graph
• whenever possible

3
Elements of a Good Graph

• Time on the X-Axis
• Use Appropriate Scale
• Numbers on the lines!
• Use Best Fit Curve

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Required Elements
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You need a Title
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Elements of a Good Graph
Title of Graph
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You need Labels
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Label Each Axis
Label for X-Axis
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Label Each Axis

• Label the Y-Axis

Label
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Label Each Axis

• Y-
• Axis
• Label

Label for X-Axis
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Labels must include Units!

• Example
• Distance Miles

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Label Each Axis including Units!

• Distance Miles

Time Hours
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Time is always on the bottomX Axis
Distance vs. Time

• Distance Miles

Time Hours
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ExampleElements of a Good Graph
Distance vs. Time

• Distance Miles

Time Hours
15
Elements of a Good Graph

• Some time needs to be spent on choosing a scale
  which will give detail
• The graph should be
• as large as possible for both axes

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Common Problems
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Use Line Graphs when Possible

• Students want to make
• Bar Graphs
• Results in placing X or Y values in the space,
  instead of on a line

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Common Problems
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Elements of a Good Graph
20
Sometimes a Bar Graph is Appropriate
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Elements of a Good Graph

• Use
• Best-Fit Curve where appropriate

22
Common Problems
23
Latitude-Longitude Problem
X-Axis values
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Elements of a Good Graph

• Title
• Axis Labels with Units!
• Line Graph
• whenever possible

25
Elements of a Good Graph

• Time on the X-Axis
• Use Appropriate Scale
• Numbers on the lines!
• Use Best Fit Curve

26
On the Web

• MrButler.org