Graphs and How to Use

Them

Graphs

Visually display your results and dataVisually display your results and data

Allow you (and your peers) to see trendsAllow you (and your peers) to see trends

Help to make conclusions easierHelp to make conclusions easier

Are a great way to summarize your Are a great way to summarize your experiment!experiment!

Pie Graphs

Used to show parts of a Used to show parts of a whole (i.e. percentages whole (i.e. percentages or fractions)or fractions)

Often used for surveys Often used for surveys and categorical and and categorical and qualitative dataqualitative data

Making a Pie Chart

1.1. Identify how many Identify how many items make up the items make up the whole whole

2.2. Identify how many Identify how many items are in each pieceitems are in each piece

3.3. Calculate (or estimate) Calculate (or estimate) how big each piece how big each piece should be and draw itshould be and draw it

Bar Graphs

Used to show Used to show changes between changes between groups or over timegroups or over time

Often used to show Often used to show differences between differences between experimental groups experimental groups and the control(s)and the control(s)

Making a Bar Graph

1.1. Identify your maximum Identify your maximum valuevalue

2.2. Set your scaleSet your scale

3.3. Draw your bars to Draw your bars to correspond to the scale correspond to the scale you setyou set

Graphs and How to Use Them

Part II

Line Graphs

Used to track changes Used to track changes over short or long over short or long periods of timeperiods of time

Making a Line Graph

1.1. Identify your minimum Identify your minimum and maximum valuesand maximum values

2.2. Set your scale based Set your scale based on these valueson these values

3.3. Plot points spaced Plot points spaced evenly apart along the evenly apart along the x-axisx-axis

Scatter Plots

Used when you need to Used when you need to see the see the relationshiprelationship between two variables. between two variables.

Both the x and y axes Both the x and y axes represent independent represent independent measurementsmeasurements

Making a Scatter Plot

1.1. Identify your minimum and Identify your minimum and maximum values for both maximum values for both your independent (x-axis) your independent (x-axis) and dependent (y-axis) and dependent (y-axis) variablesvariables

2.2. Set your scales accordinglySet your scales accordingly

3.3. Plot points using a Plot points using a coordinate system coordinate system (independent value, (independent value, dependent value)dependent value)