Displaying Data with Graphs

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You can display data in many different ways. The type of graph you choose depends on the type of data you have collected as well as the idea you want to communicate.

A bar graph is used to compare amounts.

• Draw the horizontal and vertical axes.
• Choose a scale (example: 0 to 24) for the vertical axis. Mark the axis at evenly spaced intervals with the numbers and add an axis label (example: Hours of Daylight).
• Label the horizontal axis (example: Date) and mark the axis at evenly spaced intervals, one for each bar (example: October 11).
• Draw and color in a bar for each amount.

A line graph shows how an amount changes over time.

• Draw the horizontal and vertical axes.
• Choose a scale (example: 0 to 100) for the vertical axis. Mark the axis on evenly spaced intervals with the numbers (example: 0, 10, 20, 30...) and add an axis label (example: Temperature).
• Label the horizontal axis (example: Date) and mark the axis on evenly spaced intervals (example: October 11).
• Check your data. Place a point on the graph where the amount on the vertical axis intersects with the corresponding mark on the horizontal axis. Connect the points.

Created for the Fermilab LInC program sponsored by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Education Office and Friends of Fermilab, and funded by United States Department of Energy, Illinois State Board of Education, North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium which is operated by North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), and the National Science Foundation.

Author: Karen R. LiVecchi livecchik@aol.com East Moriches UFSD, East Moriches, New York; Edited by Marge Bardeen NTEP II PI.
Webmaster: ed-webmaster@fnal.gov Created: September 9, 1998 - Updated: December 9, 1998
URL: /ntep/f98/projects/bnl/weather/student.shtml