GRAPHING Notes for Review

Graphs are useful tools for presenting data and other information in a small space. Graphs should contain a title, labels on BOTH axes, units of measure, scale, and a key (if needed). USE a RULER!!!

Types of graphs

Circle graph / Pie chart Shows how a part of something relates to the whole Think of a pie cut into pieces – each piece shows a percentage

Bar Graph Used to compare things X-axis = horizontal axis Y-axis = vertical axis A key can be used to identify the things being compared Generally used when data collected is QUALITATIVE (descriptive) and QUANTITATIVE (numerical) Example: Height of 3 species of palm trees (Height = cm, Types= species names)

Line Graph Built from pairs of numbers Used to show changes that occur in related variables; shows relationships between sets of numerical data (ex: growth chart) Independent variable is usually on X-axis Dependent variable is usually on the Y-axis

PROPER GRAPHS: Must have these parts labeled!

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES More details!!!

Accuracy and Precision Accuracy is a description of how close a measurement is to the correct or accepted value of the quantity measured. Precision is the degree of exactness of multiple measurements. A numeric measure of confidence in a measurement or result is known as uncertainty. A lower uncertainty indicates greater confidence.

Significant Figures It is important to record the precision of your measurements so that other people can understand and interpret your results. A common convention used in science to indicate precision is known as significant figures. Significant figures are those digits in a measurement that are known with certainty plus the first digit that is uncertain.

Significant Figures

Significant Figures

Rounding