Regents Biology

Graphing Your Data

Showing patterns & trends

Follow me for Hints!

Regents Biology 2005-2006

Types of data (information) Variables

what you measure in an experiment dependent variable

measured variable unpredictable change: we don’t know how it

will change until we do the experiment Y-axis

independent variable manipulated variable predictable change: it only

changes because we chose how it would change

X-axis

The effect of _____________

on _____________

INDEPENDENT

DEPENDENT

Regents Biology

Examples of experiments 1 How does fertilizer affect the growth rate

of plants? we set up an experiment testing different

amounts of fertilizer on different plants & measuring the growth (height) of the plants: dependent variable (Y-axis)?

height of plants

independent variable (X-axis)? amount of fertilizer

The effect of _____________

on _____________

Amount of Fertilizer

Height of Plants

Regents Biology

Examples of experiments 2 How does exercise affect heart rate of

10th grade student? we set up an experiment testing

different lengths of time of exercise (minutes) on the heart rate of students: dependent variable (Y-axis)?

heart rate

independent variable (X-axis)? minutes of exercise

The effect of _____________

on _____________

Exercise

Heart Rate

Regents Biology

Examples of experiments 3 What’s the favorite drink of students?

we set up an experiment surveying students and asking which is their favorite drink : dependent variable (Y-axis)?

number of students

independent variable (X-axis)? type of drink

The effect of _____________

on _____________

Type of Drink

How many students chose it

Regents Biology

Making pictures out of data Graphs

line graphs graphing data that shows continuous change

bar graphs (or histograms) graphing data that is in disconnected groups

pie charts use when comparing percentages or amounts

What graph type do I choose?

Regents Biology

How does elevation affect temperature?

elevation

tem

pe

ratu

re

5

10

15

20

25

30

0 500 1000 1500 2000 25000

elevation (feet above sea level)

temp.

(°C)

0 30

500 25

1000 20

1500 15

2000 10

2500 5

1200 ft? Label Axis!

18

Line graph!

1200

Regents Biology

Which drink do you like best?

elevation

tem

pe

ratu

re

1

2

3

4

5

6

Coke Pepsi water tea Gatorade0

drink number

Coke 1

Pepsi 1

Water 4

Iced tea 4

Gatorade 3

Red Bull?Make a good Key!

RBRB

Bar graph!

Regents Biology

Rules to Follow for Graphing Must have a title that corresponds to

variables Label the x and y axis with variables Choose a scale for each axis (numbers

that make sense!) Make a good key

Regents Biology

Any Questions??