Graphing with Excel: Graphing Made Easy Mac 2008 Version

Entering Data Make a heading label for the independent variable (x-axis) in the first column and include the units in parentheses. Enter your data but do not include units. Make sure you save your Excel file after every major step so that you don’t lose anything incase Excel freezes. File name: Pd#_lastnamefirstinitial_assignmen t Did you save your Excel file?

Entering Data Make a heading label for the dependent variable (y-axis) in the second column and include the units in parentheses. Enter your data but do not include units. Did you save your Excel file?

Highlighting Data Highlight the data (including your headings) you would like to graph. In the example below, I highlighted from A1 to B26. Did you save your Excel file?

Making the Graph Click on the “Chart” menu in the toolbar. You can also insert a chart by choosing the “Insert” menu at the top of the page. Did you save your Excel file?

Choosing Type of Graph Choose the type of graph you would like to make from the menus. If you have two quantitative sets of data, you should pick an (X,Y) scatterplot. For some reason, if you pick a different type of graph and then try to change it to a scatterplot, Excel messes up the graph. It’s better to delete the first graph and start from the chart menu again. The second option will connect the dots. Did you save your Excel file?

Sample Graph A sample of your graph should appear. A scatterplot should look like one “line” because each point contains both your x-value and your y-value. Did you save your Excel file?

Moving the Graph Right-clicking (control- click) in the margin of the graph brings up a menu allowing you to move the graph to a separate sheet. I find it easier to see and modify the graph if it is on a sheet all by itself. The tabs at the bottom of your worksheet allow you to switch from your data sheet to your graph sheet margin Did you save your Excel file?

Using the Toolbox The toolbox icon will allow you to change options on your graph, like titles, axes, gridlines, legends, and data labels. If you can’t see the toolbox, click on the toolbox icon at the top of the page. Every time you click on something new in your graph, your toolbox morphs allowing you to change what you just clicked. Did you save your Excel file?

Changing the Title Your title should be detailed enough to tell you what the graph is about. You should include both variables as a subtitle (y vs. x) Did you save your Excel file?

Changing the Labels Label your horizontal (x) axis and vertical (y) axis with the measurement type (i.e. volume, inverse pressure, etc). Include your units in parentheses after your axis label (i.e. ºC, atm, etc). Did you save your Excel file?

Highlight Areas of Graph You can highlight and label certain portions of your graph if asked. To circle a portion of your graph, you will have to change the background color of your shape to “no fill” so that you can still see your graph. Double-click on your shape to change its color. Did you save your Excel file?

Adding Text You can add your name to the graph by inserting a textbox. The textbox tool is found in your drawing toolbar. If you don’t have a drawing toolbar, then you can add it by clicking on the “View” menu and selecting it from the toolbar menu. Did you save your Excel file?

Adding a Line/Curve of Best Fit Right-clicking (control-click) on one of the data points will bring up a menu allowing you to add a trendline. You only need to add a trendline if your teacher asks for it. If your data looks linear, you would want to chose the linear trendline. If your data looks like a curve, you would want the curved trendline. You should also have Excel put the equation and R 2 value on the graph from the options menu. The R 2 value is a measure of how well the line/curve of best fit matches the data. An R 2 value of 1 means 100% of the variation in y can be explained by the variation in x. That is good. Did you save your Excel file?

Formatting the Equation for the Line/Curve of Best Fit You will want to move the equation of the line to a place that it is easily visible. You can make it bigger and easier to read by changing the font. Double-click on the edge of the equation textbox and change the font to a bigger size. Did you save your Excel file?

Certainty of Equation You will need to change the significant digits of your line of best fit. Excel is like a calculator, it will give you all of the digits, but are they all significant? I don’t think so. Your line of best fit can’t be more certain than any of your data. Change the number of decimals for your equation to match the number of decimals in your data. Double click on the equation’s textbox and change the decimals under the “number” menu. Did you save your Excel file?

Relocating Your Work To this point, you have probably been saving your Excel file to the desktop. As you finish for the day though, you will want to save your file so that you can get to it from any computer. Copy the file to your USB or upload it to your Moodle Portfolio.

“Printing” a PDF of Your Graph To save paper, I don’t have students print out their graphs. I have you print a digital copy (PDF) and upload it to the assignment dropbox. When your graph is ready to be graded, click the print button. Click on the PDF button in the lower left- hand corner. You can save the PDF to your desktop. File name: Pd#_lastnamefirstinitial_assignment Excel will ask if you want to use “.PDF” and this is ok.

Uploading Your Work for Grading Upload the PDF of your graph to the appropriate assignment dropbox on Moodle. You will have to tell Moodle where the PDF of your graph is located. Lastly, open the file you just uploaded to make sure it is what you want me to grade.

YOU’RE DONE!!! EXCELERIFFIC