Ch.1 Section 5 Pages 35-41

Graphs in Science

GraphA picture of your data, they tend to reveal

patterns or trends words or data tables cannot.

Bar Graphs

Line Graphs

Cool

Yes Science Rules

Line GraphsAre used to display data to show how one

variable (RESPONDING VARIABLE) changes in response to another variable (MANIPULATED VARIABLE).

Plotting a line Graph1. Draw the axes

Horizontal axis (x-axis) Responding VariableVertical axis (y-axis) Manipulated variable

2. Label the axes: Horizontal (manipulated variable)Vertical (responding variable)Include UNITS of Measure

3 Create a scaleNeeds to cover the ranges of values from

your data.Origin (point where two axes cross)Coordinate: is a pair of numbers used to

determine the position of a point on a graph.

Plotting a line Graph4. Plot the data

Using coordinate pairs (data)Data Point: the point showing the location of

the coordinate pairs5. Draw a line of best fit

A smooth line that reflects the general pattern of a graph

Linear graph: a line graph in which the data points yield a straight line.

6. Add a titleIndentify the variables or relationship

shown in the graph.

Line of best FitLine of best fit emphasizes the overall trend shown by all the data taken as a whole

SlopeThe slope of a graph line tells you how

much y changes for every change in x.

Nonlinear graphA graph in which the data points do not fall

along a straight line.Linear trends: linear graphs easily show

how two variables are related. Nonlinear trends: useful in understanding

how the variables are relatedNo trend: show no recognizable pattern.

(Why?)