Graphing Terms

Histogram

A type of bar grahp. The dependent variable must have a natural order that can be grouped in chunks. THe bars touch and the y-axis is frequently a percentage or frequency.

Segmented bar graph

Bar graph comparing two or more sets of data with the categories built on top of each other.

Side by side

Bar graph comparing two or more sets of data. Categories on horizontal axis and each data set represented by a different style bar.

Qualitative Data

Data that can be observed but not measured. Does not involve numbers of any kind, only descriptions.

Mode

the number which appears most often in your set of data

Bar Graph

A graph made of bars that don't touch that is used to compare non-continuous data.

Pie Chart

Chart showing each category in relation to the total data. Use percents in the pie chart.

Mean (Average)

The average of your set of data. Calculated by adding up all data amounts and dividing by the number of data sets that are present.

X-axis

The horizontal axis on a coordinate plane. Axis labels should always show up next to the axis and should describe the data and units that are measured on that axis. Labeled as letter B in the picture.

Range

The total span of all your data from the lowest number to the highest number.

Median

The value of the data in the middle of the set when listed in order from smallest to largest.

Dependent Variable

The variable that shows a result because of the change made in the independent variable. Plotted on the Y-axis of a line graph.

Independent Variable

The variable that you control and change in a scientific experiment. Placed on the X-axis of a line graph.

Y-axis

The vertical axis on a coordinate plane. Axis labels should always be placed next to the axis and should describe the data and units that are measured on that axis. Labeled as letter A in the picture.

Scatter Plot

This graph shows the relationship between an independent variable (X-axis) and a dependent variable (Y-axis). The data points are plotted on a coordinate plane but the points are not connected. A best fit line is added to the graph to show the relationship.

Extrapolate

To predict a future piece of data based on the trend identified by the best fit line.

Graph Title

Written at the top of a graph, describes what is shown on the graph. Placed at the letter C in the picture.

Line Graph

a graph that displays relationships between two sets of data, related by distance, time, temperature, etc. Generally used to display quantitative data. Data points are connected by a line.

Quantitative Data

consist of numerical measurements or counts.