ALS 3203 - Lesson 11
Data Types and Matching Graphs

This data set contains categorical (non-numerical data) for X values, and numerical Y values.
Specimen 3100 3135 3165 3300 3335 3365 4225 4245 4270 4425 4445
NH #1 0.85 4.81 2.47 0.6 4.18 18.83 7.05 9.61 5.94 25.16 20.51
NH #2 0.73 5.62 1.8 0.17 5.14 13.63 8.52 10.17 10.74 25.66 17.82
NH #3 0.51 5.73 2.62 0.23 5.18 22.81 7.53 8.96 4 20.87 21.57
NH #4 1.45 6.57 2.67 1.59 6.46 22.54 6.54 7.79 3.24 21.24 19.92
NH #5 0.55 5.86 2.08 0.2 4.91 18.84 7.76 9.64 8.11 23.2 18.85
NH #6 0.45 5.31 13.56 0.22 5.02 19.49 6.74 7.99 5.99 19.48 15.74
NH #7 0.67 4.27 2.47 0.19 3.82 21.49 8.45 10.2 6.69 22.02 19.72
NH #8 1.03 6.95 3.46 0.42 6.14 25.82 5.83 6.9 3.02 19.67 20.76

View each of the following graphs which were created in an older version of MS Excel from the above data. Consider which graph(s) best convey the information contained in the above data set, and why it might make a diiference in the content of the chart, and how it is interpreted. Have you ever been asked to graph data in a class by an instructor without an explanatin for the choice of graph type used? Next time this happens, ask why the particular graph is appropriate. You might be surprised by the answer!

(line chart with gridlines

3-D line chart

area chart

x-y scatter plot

column chart

line chart