1. Requirements of a good GRAPH

2. GRAPH  Title (usually “dependent” vs. “independent”)  Go Big (cover at least ½ the page in both directions) This increases the precision of any calculations made.  Draw and Label Axes  Use a straight edge.  Independent variable usually on the x-axis  Dependent variable usually on the y-axis.  Label both the quantity and its units in parentheses.  Scale each axis appropriately: consistent increments of.01,.1, 1, 10…. Or.02,.2, 2, 20… or.05,.5, 5, 50…  Plot Data Points using  or  or 

3. Don’t use big symbols that decrease precision (big smudges):,, , ,   DO NOT connect the dots. Rather, split the data with a best fit line or curve. (Connecting dots offers no benefit when analyzing the data.)  Data Analysis / Calculations (e.g., slope, linear regression, best-fit curve equation)  Include on the graph any calculations based on data.  Write best-fit equations expressed in terms of the measured quantities, not x and y.  Include appropriate units in best-fit equations.  BE NEAT  Use a straight edge to draw axes and best-fit lines.  Plot data points meticulously.