Graphing in Science All information and graphics provided by Pearson Education and Lessonplanet.com
Essential Question: How is math important to the work of scientists?
Objectives Explain the correct way to set up various graphs. Explain how to determine what type of graph you should use for a set of data.
Graphing in Science I. Horizontal axis a. also known as x-axis b. independent/manipulated variable i. In bar or histogram: choices or intervals ii. In line graph: dates, time, days, etc. II. Vertical axis a. also known as y-axis b. dependent/ responding variable i. In bar or histogram: scale based on range of data ii. In line graph: scale based on range Parts of a graph (applies to histogram, line graph, double bar graph)
Graphing in Science III. Titles a. the graph, its x-and y-axis should all have titles IV. Range of data (used to create scale on y-axis) a. found by taking the lowest value in a set of data and subtracting it from the highest value i. example: 73, 77, 84, 87, 89, 91, 94 highest - lowest = = 21 Parts of a graph (applies to histogram, line graph, double bar graph)
Graphing in Science I. Purpose: shows the frequency with which values occur II. Procedure: a. List the values from least to greatest b. Find the range in values c. Make a T-chart and label the “Stem” and “leaves” as well as title the chart d. List all digits from the hundreds and tens place on the “stem” side of the T-chart e. List all the digits from the ones place on the “leaf” side Stem and Leaf Plot
Graphing in Science III. Example: Grades on a test (73, 42, 67, 78, 99, 84, 91, 82, 100) a. From least to greatest: (42, 67, 73, 78, 82, 84, 91, 99, 100) b. Range: = 58 c-e. Stem and Leaf Plot Test Grades Stem Leaves
Graphing in Science I.Purpose: A histogram is a kind of bar graph showing the frequency with which something happens within given intervals II.Procedure: a. Decide on an interval size b. Make a frequency table (listing each data item with the number of times it occurs) c. Make a histogram complete with a title and labeled axes Histogram Graph
Graphing in Science I.Purpose: A double bar graph is used to compare two sets of data II.Procedure: a. Find the range in values b. Determine a scale c. label the graph d. Draw the bars e. Draw a key identifying the two bar colors f. Give the graph a title Double-Bar Graph
Graphing in Science III. Example: Favorite sports between boys and girls a. Find the range in values: 6-1= 5 b. Determine a scale: 0-10 by 2 c-f. Double-Bar Graph Our Favorite Sports GirlsBoys Soccer63 Softball22 Basketball15 Other12
Graphing in Science I.Purpose: shows changes over time II. Procedure: a. Draw the axes b. Label the axes c. Create a scale d. plot the data e. draw a Line of Best Fit i. the overall trend shown by all the data a. linear graph: data points yield a straight line b. nonlinear graph: data points do not fall along a straight line f. add a title Line Graph
Graphing in Science III. Example: Line Graph