1. Everything an ABE/GED Student Needs to Learn about Graphs
Jackie Hamlett
College of Lake County

2. What are graphs?
A graph shows information visually. The type of graph usually depends on the kind of information being shown.

3. Main types of graphs
Line plots, circle graphs, bar graphs, and line graphs provide four ways of representing a collection of data visually.

4. Line Plot –organizes data
Line plot shows frequency. The following plot shows that most cars were sold on Thursday. When were the least amount of cars sold?

5. Ages of People in an apartment building.
Whats the most frequent age? The least frequent?

6. Bar Graph A bar graph is used to compare amounts.
It's a fast way to show big differences.

7. Bar Graph Bar charts are used to compare data. title vertical axis
Number of police officers in Podunkville,
title
vertical axis y
(or, y axis)
scale
(must show
correct units
in. ft.., etc.
horizontal axis
labels
(or, x axis)
years
The height of the bars tells us ‘How Many?’ ‘How much?’ ‘How often?’ or ‘How high, or low?’

8. Dual bar chart Dual bar charts compare two or three sets of data
The chart must have a key to identify the bars,
KEY

9. Dual bar chart This chart compares horsepower with mpg.
The higher the horsepower, the lower the mpg

10. Pictograph
A pictograph uses pictures or symbols to represent an assigned amount of data.
A pictograph takes the form of a bar graph.

11. Line Graph
A line graph is used to show change over time. This is called a trend.
You can use a line graph to look for trends and to make predictions.
Normally the horizontal axis represents periods of time and the vertical axis gives numerical amounts.

12. Temperature Line Graph
Can you see the trend in temperatures?

13. Temperature Line Graph
Whats the trend?
Temperatures start low then rise sharply up, then fall dramatically, and rise again

14. Click here to see more about line graphs

15. Compare your graph.

16. What do you notice about Sam’s weight?
What’s the trend?

17. Circle graph
A circle graph is used to show how a part of something relates to the whole.
Pie Charts are used to show proportions, fractions and percentages in sets of data.
The sectors describe the different parts of the data.

18. Circle graph Sectors KEY A pie chart must also have a key.
This identifies the
sectors

19. Median Income for Men and Women

20. Median Income for Men and Women

21. Choosing the Right Graph
Use a bar graph if you are not looking for trends (or patterns) over time; and the items (or categories) are not parts of a whole.

22. Choosing the Right Graph
Use a pie chart if you need to compare different parts of a whole, there is no time involved and there are not too many items (or categories).

23. Choosing the Right Graph
Use a line graph if you need to see how a quantity has changed over time.  Line graphs help us to find trends (or patterns) over time.
The precipitation goes steadily up in April,then begins to fall in August, and even out in October. This is a TREND.

24. GRAPHS are an important tool to show data visually.