Graphing Rules

3 Main Types Line Graph Line Graph Bar Graph Bar Graph Pie Chart/Circle Graph Pie Chart/Circle Graph

Line Graphs Compare two sets of NUMERICAL data Compare two sets of NUMERICAL data Used to – Used to – Show specific valuesShow specific values Show trends in dataShow trends in data Make predictionsMake predictions Example: time-distance graphs Example: time-distance graphs

Line Graph

Bar Graphs Used when you have one set of NUMERICAL data and one set of QUALITATIVE data (words) Used when you have one set of NUMERICAL data and one set of QUALITATIVE data (words) Good for – Good for – Making comparisons easy to seeMaking comparisons easy to see Showing trendsShowing trends Example: speeds of animals Example: speeds of animals

Bar Graph

Pie Charts/Circle Graphs Display percentages Display percentages Compares parts of a whole Compares parts of a whole Example: Percent of students in classroom who have school lunch or packed lunches Example: Percent of students in classroom who have school lunch or packed lunches

Pie Chart

Don’t forget – TAIL! Title – give your graph a title explaining what it representsTitle – give your graph a title explaining what it represents Axis – DRY/MIXAxis – DRY/MIX DRY- Dependent, Responding, Y-Axis MIX- Manipulated, Independent, X-Axis Interval – lines should be numbered at an appropriate and consistent intervalInterval – lines should be numbered at an appropriate and consistent interval Labels – ALWAYS label x and y axis (include a key as well, if necessary)Labels – ALWAYS label x and y axis (include a key as well, if necessary)