What is your favorite thing to do?
Umm, watch TikTok.
No, it’s not the TikyToky.
Why do all old people call TikTok TikyToky?
Because we are awesome.
Your definition of awesome is different from mine.
Anyway, the most awesome thing you like to do is graphing.
Graphing is not even in my top 10.
Yes, it is. It’s number 1!!!!!!!
Preference is a subjective experience that only an individual can determine themselves!!!!!!!
I don’t know what that means. But I do know you love graphing.
I’m beginning to hate this class.
How old are you? Six?
No, forty-eight.
Why Graph?
Graphs make data analysis easier. However, data can be graphed differently, producing different interpretations of data. Therefore, the chart (graph) you choose needs to be the graph that best shows the major trends in the data.
In chapter 2, a hypothetical experiment was discussed with two variations.
Column Graphs
You want to make a column graph when comparing different categories or one point in time to another point (non-continuous). Bar graphs can plot changes over time, but only if the changes are not continuous.
A column graph should include labels and units on the x-axis and y-axis, the x-axis and y-axis adjusted to the right scale, and a title that briefly describes the graphed data. A legend (key) may or may not be needed.
In chapter 2, you did two variations of an experiment that involved water temperature and fish breathing rate. Both variations measured a fish’s breath rate in
- Variation 1: A fish was placed in three different temperatures (10o C, 15o C, and 20o C), and the number of breaths the fish took for one minute was recorded.
- Variation 2: A fish was placed in three different temperatures (10o C, 15o C, and 20o C), and the number of breaths the fish took for one minute was recorded for five minutes.
Which variation is best analyzed as a column graph?
Variation 1.
Good. Why?
In version 1, a single measurement was recorded per water temperature.
Awesome. Now let’s graph version 1’s data
Line Graphs
You want to make a line graph when comparing changes in a variable or trends over time (continuous). Line graphs are preferred over bar graphs when differences in data over time are small because it is much easier to see the trend(s).
A line graph should include labels and units on the x-axis and y-axis, the x-axis and y-axis adjusted to the right scale, data points, a legend (key), and a title briefly describing the graphed data.
Let’s return to the fish experiment. Which variation is best analyzes as a line graph?
Version 2.
Awesome possum. Why?
Because multiple measurements were recorded over five minutes.
Coolio. Now let’s graph version 2’s data.