1. Graphing Vocabulary: 1. x axis 2. y axis 3. line graph 4. bar graph
5. pie graph

2. The x axis is horizontal. That means it is written at the
bottom of the graph.
The x axis represents the
independent variable. You
choose what to write on the x
axis because you control that part of the experiment. It is
information that is known to you.
X axis
For example, if you wanted to know how many M & M’s
your friends could eat, you would put your friends’ names
on the x axis because you know who will be eating the
M & M’s. You control that part of the experiment. You can’t
control how many M & M’s they eat, however.

3. The Y axis is vertical. This means that it goes along the
side of the graph. A good way to remember this is that the
stick of the Y goes vertically (up and down).
The y axis represents the dependent
variable. The dependent variable is
what you are testing and is determined
by the independent variable. Y
axis
For example, in the M & M story, the number of M & M’s
eaten would be on the y axis because you don’t know how
many M & M’s each of your friends can eat. That is what
you are testing.

4. What to Include When Creating Your Graph
1. Place the X and Y axes in the correct location.
2. Choose a interval or scale for each of the axes. The
intervals MUST BE EVENLY SPACED and they MUST
INCLUDE ALL OF YOUR DATA.
3. When you label the axes, be sure to WRITE THE
APPROPRIATE UNIT.
4. Give your graph a title. The title should explain the
relationship between the X axis and the Y axis.

5. 1. A line graph is best used for showing change over time.
Line Graphs
1. A line graph is best used for showing change over time.
Number of Bathing Suits Sold Each Month
Number
of Bathing
Suits Sold
Each Month
Month

6. 1. A bar graph is best used for comparing data quickly.
Bar Graphs
1. A bar graph is best used for comparing data quickly.
Number of Students
2. Bar graphs may be presented vertically or horizontally

7. Pie Graphs
1. A pie graph is best used for showing percentages.
2. Pie graphs do not use axes to represent their data. Rather,
the independent variable is whatever the pie or slice of pie
represents The dependent variable is the size of the pie
slice, or the percentage of the whole it represents.

8. I Love Charts Song

9. Quiz Time! 1. Is the x axis on the horizontal or vertical line?
2. Is the y axis the dependent variable or the independent
variable?
dependent
3. A line graph is best used for…
looking at changes over time
4. A bar graph is best used for …
comparing information at a glance

10. 5. A pie graph is best used for…
showing percentages
6. The title of your graph should explain…
the relationship between the x axis and the y axis
Science Humor…
A student at Van Hoosen had had enough work drawing
graph after graph in science class. He told his teacher, “I’ll
do math, I’ll do social studies, I’ll even do science, but
graphing is where I draw the line!”