Transcript Communicating with Graphs PowerPoint

Chapter 1: The Nature of Science
 Identify three types of graphs and
explain the ways they are used.
 Distinguish between dependent and
independent variables.
 Analyze data using the various types of
graphs.

Graph: a visual display of information
or data.
 Make it easier to understand patterns by
displaying data in a visual manner.
y-axis
Dependent
Variable
x-axis
Independent Variable
 Line graphs show any relationship
where the dependent variable changes
due to a change in the independent
variable.
 Often show how a relationship between
variables changes over time.
 You can show more than one event on
the same graph as long as the
relationship between the variables is
identical.
 Constructing Line Graphs:
 Choose appropriate scale
 x-axis should always show the
independent variable
 y-axis should always show the dependent
variable
 Bar graphs are useful for comparing
information collected by counting.
 Each bar represents a quantity counted at
a particular time.
 Independent variable is plotted on x-axis
 Dependent variable is plotted on y-axis
 Circle graphs, or pie graphs, are used to
show how some fixed quantity is
broken down into parts.
 Each part of the circle graph represents a
percentage of the whole.
 Which type of graph would best
represent the results of a survey of 144
people where 75 ride a bus, 45 drive
cars, 15 carpool, and 9 walk to work?