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The document provides guidelines for graphing data collected during a paper towel investigation, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate graph type based on data characteristics. It outlines various graph types, including bar graphs, line graphs, scatter plots, and pie charts, detailing when to use each and the general rules for creating clear and informative graphs. Additionally, it includes reminders about labeling axes, maintaining neatness, and ensuring graphs are appropriately scaled.

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nicholsca27
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16 views17 pages

9-8+graphing+notes+period+8

The document provides guidelines for graphing data collected during a paper towel investigation, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate graph type based on data characteristics. It outlines various graph types, including bar graphs, line graphs, scatter plots, and pie charts, detailing when to use each and the general rules for creating clear and informative graphs. Additionally, it includes reminders about labeling axes, maintaining neatness, and ensuring graphs are appropriately scaled.

Uploaded by

nicholsca27
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Paper Towel Investigation

Complete Data Collection


Answer Questions 1-5
completely
Paper Towel Investigation
Get to work on your graph
I will be around to answer questions
and be sure you did your HW
This is due very soon-
don’t waste time
I Have Data...Now What?

How to display your data


What is a Graph?
● Graphs are a way to display a lot of information into a picture
● It is much easier to understand patterns and trends and to
make predictions with a graph than with raw data
Which Graph?
● You select the type of
graph based on the type
of data you wish to
display
○ Quantitative
■ Time
■ Amounts
■ Percentages
○ Qualitative
■ Categories
Bar Graph
● The height of the bar represents the amount and the color of the bar
represents the category.
● When to use:
○ Making comparisons amongst categorical data
○ When you have categories (IV) and amounts (DV)
● Double bar graphs might be used to compare multiple categories at once
Line Graph
● The height of the line represents the amount and it shows the change
over time when read left to right
● When to use:
○ When you are showing continuous change over time
○ Comparing how the amounts of things (DV) have changed over time (IV)
● Multiple lines are used for two different data sets
In most cases, when we have two sets of
PLEASE NOTE…. quantitative data in Biology class, we will
construct a line graph…

• Line graphs DO NOT always need to have time on the x axis if directed to
construct a line graph with data
With that said….
Scatter Plot
● Each dot represents how the IV and DV compare for each experimental
group/trial
○ A line of best fit is sometimes drawn to approximate the trend of the data
■ The best fit line does not go through every data point
● When to use:
○ When comparing two sets of numerical data
○ Use when you only have quantitative data only!
Remember, if you are told to make a
line graph, be sure to make a line
graph and not a scatter plot…

Why teach you scatter plots…


Science Research
Higher Level
Knowledge is Power
Pie Chart
● The size of each color represents the percentage of that category in the
entire data set
● When to use:
○ When you want to show the relationship of parts to the whole
○ Different from bar chart because a pie chart focuses on comparing percentages
of each category
General Graphing Rules
● Graphs should always be neat
as they are the picture of your
data and you want to make
sure they can be read easily
○ Use a ruler and graph paper!
○ Graphs should take up most of
the available space so it is
easier to read
● Graphs should always have
titles so the reader knows
what they are looking at
● Graphs should have labels or
legends so the reader knows
what your colors mean
The X and Y Axis
● Need to have a title and
a unit
● Independent variable

Y-axis title (unit)


goes on the x-axis
(horizontal)
● Dependent variable
goes on the y-axis
(vertical)
● The x and y axis need to
be drawn darkly and
with a straight edge

X-axis title (unit)


Axis Scales
● Scales should start at zero
● The end of the axis should be large
enough to contain all of the data
● The scale does not need to be the same
between each axis but should be
uniform
○ The step between each grid line
should be equal on the axis
● Breaks are sometimes included but
ONLY if needed to show that some of
the data is very different from the rest
○ Ask your teacher before using
them
TULIPS
Checklist
• Title
• Units
• Labels
• Intervals
• Plotted
• Scale
Paper Towel Investigation
Continued
Complete the entire packet,
referring to your notes as you work.

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