1. All About Graphs
Graphs and charts are great because they communicate information visually – using a picture!

2. Introduction to Graphs
Graphs are used to communicate information or data
Sometimes we have a lot of data (many numbers) or complicated data and we need a picture to help us understand it – graphs!
There are many different types of graphs and each one is used to share different kinds of data:
Bar Graph, Line Graph, Pie Graph, Area Graph

3. What goes in a graph?
Graphs are made using two axis. The axis are called the x axis (horizontal) and the y axis (vertical)
There’s a simple trick to remembering what information goes where:
The independent variable of my experiment will go on the x-axis
The dependent variable of my experiment will go on the y-axis
Most of the time (99%) time measured (years, dates, minutes, seconds) will go on the x-axis!

4. Labeling
All parts of your graph MUST be labeled so that people know what you’re talking about!
Title
Scale
What you’re measuring
Key

5. Basic Construction:

6. Line Graphs
Line graphs are used to track changes over short and long periods of time; plotted in equal intervals (2’s, 5’s, 10’s etc)
Smaller changes
Line segments in a line graph show a clear direction called a trend (example)
Line graphs show the relationships between two variables
Variables: is an event, condition, or factor that changes in a study or test (the race)

7. Double-line Graph
Compares two sets of related data that both change over time
Good for comparing trends in different sets of data

8. Bar Graphs Uses rectangular blocks or bars of varying height
Bar graphs are used to show/compare things between different groups (each car’s time); the height of each bar tells you the value of the info it’s representing
The scale should begin at 0 whenever possible (it’s like a ruler)
Double Bar Graphs – shows TWO sets of data and how they relate to each other (example)

9. Circle or Pie Graphs
Pie charts are best to use when you are trying to compare parts of a whole. (all of our classes)
The circle stands for the whole set of data (whole bag of skittles)
Each wedge shows (sectors) stand for a part of the data (a particular color)
Use percentages (____ of a 100%)
They do not show changes over time.

10. Area Graphs Area graphs are very similar to line graphs.
They can be used to track changes over time for one or more groups.
Area graphs are good to use when you are tracking the changes in two or more related groups that make up one whole category (for example public and private groups).

11. Scatter Plot: Look at Handout
Display information in a way that makes it easier to see IF there is a relationship between two sets of data
Data must be in pairs
You must know which value in one set is paired with which value in another
For example, when the temperature goes up, the amount of people at the pool goes up too

12. Worksheet and visuals Lets Practice
Choosing a Graph
Worksheet and visuals Lets Practice