create a graph user manual (2024)

What are Independent and Dependent Variables?

Question: What's a variable?

Answer: A variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are trying to measure. There are two types of variables-independent and dependent.

Question: What's an independent variable?

Answer: An independent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is a variable that stands alone and isn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone's age might be an independent variable. Other factors (such as what they eat, how much they go to school, how much television they watch) aren't going to change a person's age. In fact, when you are looking for some kind of relationship between variables you are trying to see if the independent variable causes some kind of change in the other variables, or dependent variables.

Question: What's a dependent variable?

Answer: Just like an independent variable, a dependent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent variable because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied, how much sleep you got the night before you took the test, or even how hungry you were when you took it. Usually when you are looking for a relationship between two things you are trying to find out what makes the dependent variable change the way it does.

Many people have trouble remembering which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable. An easy way to remember is to insert the names of the two variables you are using in this sentence in they way that makes the most sense. Then you can figure out which is the independent variable and which is the dependent variable:

(Independent variable) causes a change in (Dependent Variable) and it isn't possible that (Dependent Variable) could cause a change in (Independent Variable).

For example:

(Time Spent Studying) causes a change in (Test Score) and it isn't possible that (Test Score) could cause a change in (Time Spent Studying).

We see that "Time Spent Studying" must be the independent variable and "Test Score" must be the dependent variable because the sentence doesn't make sense the other way around.

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FAQs

How do you plot a graph step by step? ›

Step 1: Identify the variables. ...
Step 2: Determine the variable range. ...
Step 3: Determine the scale of the graph. ...
Step 4: Number and label each axis and title the graph.
Step 5: Determine the data points and plot on the graph. ...
Step 6: Draw the graph.

How to create a graph in Word? ›

To create a simple chart from scratch in Word, click Insert > Chart, and pick the chart you want. Click Insert > Chart. Click the chart type and then double-click the chart you want. Tip: For help deciding which chart is best for your data, see Available chart types.

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What website can I use to create graphs? ›

Online graph makers like Piktochart and Canva enable users to add multiple graphs to the same report and customize the design of their templates.

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How do you draw a simple graph? ›

How to Draw a Graph

Make a horizontal line on the paper. ^X ^Research ^source ...
Put the label "X" to the right of the line to indicate the x axis.
Mark the center of the line with a vertical tick mark and label it 0. This is the origin of the graph.
Make equally spaced tick marks on the rest of the x axis.

What is the difference between a graph and a chart? ›

While many people use 'graph' and 'chart' interchangeably, they are different visuals. Charts are tables, diagrams or pictures that organize large amounts of data clearly and concisely. People use charts to interpret current data and make predictions. Graphs, however, focus on raw data and show trends over time.

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How do you write a simple plot? ›

Start with this simple list:

Main character (who leads the story)
Status Quo (situation at the start)
Motivation (what your character wants)
Initiating incident (what disturbs the status quo – conflict)
Developments (what happens next)
Crisis (how things come to a head)
Resolution (how things resolve)

How to make a graph in docs? ›

Go to Insert > Chart. Click on the Chart and choose the type of chart or graph you want to use. The chart or graph will automatically be inserted. To edit the data within the chart, click on the link icon and choose the Open Source option to open your Google Sheets source data.

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How to make a graph using Excel? ›

Click anywhere in the data for which you want to create a chart. To plot specific data into a chart, you can also select the data. Select Insert > Charts > and the chart type you want. On the menu that opens, select the option you want.

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How do you make a XY graph on Word? ›

Select the data you want to plot in the chart. Click the Insert tab, and then click X Y Scatter, and under Scatter, pick a chart. With the chart selected, click the Chart Design tab to do any of the following: Click Add Chart Element to modify details like the title, labels, and the legend.

Which tool allows you to create a graph? ›

Google Sheets: Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet application that offers similar charting capabilities to Microsoft Excel. 3. Tableau: Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool that allows you to create interactive and dynamic charts and graphs.

Does Microsoft have graph template? ›

With Microsoft Graph, you can create your own templates or use the prebuilt team templates that are included with Teams to create teams.

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How are graphs formed? ›

A graph is a non-linear kind of data structure made up of nodes or vertices and edges. The edges connect any two nodes in the graph, and the nodes are also known as vertices. This graph has a set of vertices V= { 1,2,3,4,5} and a set of edges E= { (1,2),(1,3),(2,3),(2,4),(2,5),(3,5),(4,50 }.

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What makes a graph? ›

A graph is a mathematical structure consisting of a set of points called VERTICES and a set (possibly empty) of lines linking some pair of vertices. It is possible for the edges to oriented; i.e. to be directed edges. The lines are called EDGES if they are undirected, and or ARCS if they are directed.

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How do you write a good graph? ›

Good graph design

Don't put too much data on one chart; use small multiples (same format, same scale)
Use one measure per chart.
Remove unnecessary borders, backgrounds and grid lines.
Default orientation should be landscape.
Avoid distracting graphics or animations.

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