- Title: Summarizes information being represented in ANY graph.
- Independent Variable: The variable that is controlled by the experimenter, such as time, dates, depth, and temperature. This is placed on the X axis.
- Dependent Variable: The variable that is directly affected by the I.V. It is the result of what happens as time, dates, depth and temperature are changed. This is placed on the Y axis.
- Scales for each Variable: In constructing a graph, one needs to know where to plot the points representing the data. In order to do this a scale must be employed to include all the data points. This must also take up a conservative amount of space. It is not suggested to have a run on scale making the graph too hard to manage. The scales should start with 0 and climb in intervals such as, multiples of 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, etc...the scale of numbers will be determined by your data values.
- Legend: A short descriptive narrative concerning the graph’s data. It should be short and concise and placed under the graph.
- Mean: This is determined by adding all the numbers in a set of data and then dividing by the number of values.
- Median*: This is the middle number in a set of data. If there is an even set of numbers in the data, then take the average of the two middle numbers. Ex: 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 median = 8. Ex: 3, 5, 8, 11, 17, 19, 27, 30 median is 11 + 17 = 28/2 = 14.
- Mode*: This is the number that occurs most often in a set of data. Ex: 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 9,9,9, 12, 12, 15 mode = 9.
- * To determine median and mode, the numbers in the set of data must be put in numerical order.
- Extrapolate: extending the graph, along the same slope, above or below measured data.
- Interpolate: predicting data between two measured points on the graph.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of analyzing data worksheet answers.
