Assignment 3: Charts and Graphs
What are charts and graphs?
1. "Pictures" of data that help us visualize/see the data. 2. They help us see any important patterns. 3. Charts and graphs use pictures & words to provide information/data.
What does the KEY reveal?
1. The key tells you what the different colors mean. 2. Each color represents a different category or type of data/information. 3. The key also tells you what the different symbols mean. In this example, the key is in the white box at the top right. It shows which color represents boys and which color represents girls.
Chart/Table
A chart orders information in rows and columns.
Line Graph
A line graph uses points connected by lines to show how large in value something is.
Line Plot
A line plot is an easy way to represent data that has many repeated numbers. In this set of data, for example, the line plot shows that "15" occurred 3 times.
What is the most important question you should ask yourself about the graph/chart?
Ask yourself: What does this graph/chart SHOW? And answer: This graph/chart shows...
Bar Graph
Bar graphs use rectangular bars to show how large each value is. The bars may be horizontal or vertical.
Lines/Sections on the graph
Different lines and sections of the graph may be printed in different colors or patterns.
Practice: Which two types of protection seem to have the same amount of animals?
Freeze and Bite. They both have one animal.
What does the heading/title of a chart or graph reveal?
It reveals the TOPIC of the graph/chart or the TYPE of information presented in the graph or chart.
Practice: Does the graph explain why only 2 animals use tusks and quills?
No, the graph doesn't give an explanation. It only shows the number of animals.
Practice: What do the numbers on the left show? What axis is this?
Number of Animals This is the y-axis.
Pie Graph
Pie graphs show what part of a whole something is. The parts must add up to 100%.
What is the THIRD thing you should read when you are given a chart or graph?
Read any other text (words, sentences, etc.) that has been written on or around the graph. These are short explanations of the different parts o the graph.
Stem and Leaf Plot
Stem-and-leaf plots help you record double-digit values so you can easily see which groups are most common. For example, the first row shows "90" and "94" and the last row shows "83, 84, 85, 87, 89."
Symbols
Symbols are used to represent information.
Practice: Which bar is highest? Name the type of protection it shows. What does this bar mean?
The highest bar is Retreat. The bar shows that 11 animals primarily retreat.
Where are the labels usually written?
The labels are usually written along the vertical and horizontal axes of the chart or table. In this example, the labels would be "month" and "temperature".
What do the labels reveal?
The labels tell you what each LINE, MARK, or SECTION on the graph represents.
Practice: What does the bottom row show? What axis is this?
Type of Protection This is the x-axis.
Where can you find the title or the heading of a graph or chart?
Usually, at the top center
Practice: What is the title of the graph?
What 30 Alaskan Animals Primarily Do to Protect Themselves
What's the horizontal axis/ x-axis?
the axis/side of the chart that goes left to right In this example, the horizontal axis is the one with "month". Always ask yourself: what do the numbers/the information on the x-axis mean?
What's the vertical axis/y-axis?
the axis/side of the chart that goes up and down. In this example, the vertical axis is the one with "temperature". Always ask yourself: what do the numbers/the information on the y-axis mean?
What is the SECOND thing you should read when you are given a chart or graph?
read all the LABELS
What is the FIRST thing you should read when you are given a chart or a graph?
the Title or Heading
