1. How to Make a Data Chart

2. Step One The independent variable is recorded in the left column
Example Problem: You are testing the number of pennies it takes to break different brands of toilet paper. What is the independent variable?
Brand of toilet paper
Brand of Toilet Paper
Charmin
Quilted Northern
Scott

3. Step Two The dependent variable is usually found in the middle column
Note: The middle columns are divided into small columns based on the number of trials
Example Problem: You are testing the number of pennies it takes to break different brands of toilet paper. What is the dependent variable?
Number of pennies per trial
Brand of Toilet Paper
Charmin
Quilted Northern
Scott
Trial One
Trial Two
Trial Three

4. Step Three
Summative information is usually found in the far right column
Brand of Toilet Paper
Trial One
Trial Two
Trial Three
Charmin 21 24 20
Quilted Northern 33 38 34
Scott 23 26 30
Average

5. Step Four Each column is labeled across the top of the chart
Brand of Toilet Paper
Trial One
Trial Two
Trial Three
Average
Charmin 21 24 20
21.7
Quilted Northern 33 38 34
35.0
Scott 23 26 30
28.0
Number of Pennies

6. Step Five
Units should be displayed in parentheses with labels (if necessary)
Number of Pennies
Brand of Toilet Paper
Trial One
Trial Two
Trial Three
Average
Charmin
21 (pennies)
24 (pennies)
20 (pennies)
21.7 (pennies)
Quilted Northern
33 (pennies)
38 (pennies)
34 (pennies)
35.0 (pennies)
Scott
23 (pennies)
26 (pennies)
30 (pennies)
28.0 (pennies)