Requirements of a Requirements of a goodgood

GRAPHGRAPH

Requirements of a Requirements of a goodgoodGRAPHGRAPH

Title (usually “dependent” vs. “independent”)

Go Big (cover at least ½ the page in both directions)

This increases the precision of any calculations made.

Draw and Label AxesUse a straight edge.Independent variable usually on the x-axisDependent variable usually on the y-axis. Label both the quantity and its units in parentheses.Scale each axis appropriately: consistent increments of

.01, .1, 1, 10…. Or .02, .2, 2, 20… or .05, .5, 5, 50…

Plot Data Points using or or

Don’t use big symbols that decrease precision (big smudges): , , , ,

DO NOT connect the dots. Rather, split the data with a best fit line or curve. (Connecting dots offers no benefit when analyzing the data.)

Data Analysis / Calculations (e.g., slope, linear regression, best-fit curve equation)Include on the graph any calculations based on data.Write best-fit equations expressed in terms of the measured

quantities, not x and y.Include appropriate units in best-fit equations.

BE NEATUse a straight edge to draw axes and best-fit lines.Plot data points meticulously.