Data Analysis

(1) Matching Stories to Graphs

Task:  Graphs are a way of telling stories.  Open the Matching Stories to Graphs form and match the graphs with the appropriate stories.

(2) Creating graphs from stories

Task:  Draw graphs of each of the following stories.  Analyze the story, select the appropriate x-axis (independent variable) and y-axis (dependent variable), and plot a rough graph on the  corresponding slide.

(1) Dribbling a basketball.

(2) Traveling up the lift hill and down the first drop of a roller coaster.

(3) Money is placed in the bank at a constant rate of interest.

(4) A thermostatically controlled air conditioner is turned on in a warm room.

(5) The movement of bridesmaids in a wedding march.

(6) The height of grass of a well-maintained lawn during growing season.

(7) The radioactive decay of the unstable isotope, uranium-238.

(8) A trumpet player practicing his or her scales from middle C to high C and back twice.

(9) The speed of an orbiting spacecraft.

(10) The population growth of mice introduced to a very small island.  The population is ultimately limited by the food supply.

(3) Create a Graph from Data Points - The Keeling Curve

In 1958 C. David Keeling of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography started recording the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. His work was later adopted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  (NOAA), which continuously plots carbon dioxide data year-around. 

Task:  Create the Keeling Curve of atmospheric carbon dioxide as a function of time from this data: Carbon Dioxide Data.

(4) Graphing Stories with Desmos

Desmos is an advanced graphing calculator that can be used to represent real world phenomena. 

• Video - Desmos - Creating Sketching Activity [1:26]

• Video - Desmos - Creating Card Sorting Activities [5:35]

• Video - Desmos - Creating a Sorting Activity [1:48]

• Video - Desmos - Graphing Calculator [1:48]

Task:  Complete  Graphing Stories (Graph phenomena using Desmos)

(5) Scatter & Line Graphs

• • Video - Scatter plot [6:49]

Independent variable (x) → goes in the left column.

This is usually time, trial number, temperature, etc.

It will appear on the x-axis (horizontal axis) in your chart.

Dependent variable (y) → goes in the right column(s).

This is the variable that changes in response to x.

It will appear on the y-axis (vertical axis).

If you have multiple dependent variables, put each in its own column to the right

If your data is arranged in rows, insert a chart and enable “Switch rows/columns” in the Chart Editor so Google Sheets treats the first row as x-values and the next as y-values.

Task:  Recreate and modify all graphs:  Surface Area to Volume Ratio;  Various Graphs 

(6) Column & Bar Charts

• • Video - Column & Bar Graphs [1:51]

  • Video - Annotating Graphs [3:58]

Task:  Recreate and modify all graphs - Column & Bar Charts

(7) Pie & Area Charts

Recreate and modify all graphs

• Video - Pie Charts [2:07]

• Video - Area Plots [2:39]

• Video - Annotating Data Points [3:58]

Task:  Recreate and modify all graphs - Pie & Areas Charts

(8) Combination Plots

• Video - Climographs (Combination Plots) [ 4:47]

• Video -    Climographs, Combination Charts [ 32:42]

• Slides - Climograph slides

• Drawings - climograph drawings

Task:  Recreate and modify all graphs - Climographs

(9) Statistics

• Video -   Max, Min, Ave, Median, Average, % [6:02]

• Video -  Line of Best Fit [3:41]

Task:  Recreate and modify all graphs - Statistics 

Task:   Complete the  Gizmos - simulations with statistics [7LJPX8].  Manipulate the variables and answer the questions.

(10) Collaborative Investigations 

• • Input your height in cm

  • Input your foot length in cm.  You can determine your foot length by entering your size and converting to cm using Wolfram Alpha  or using an AI tool. 

Task:  Graph height vs. foot length (in-class activity)

(11) Graphing Errors

Task:  Analyze these spreadsheets and associated graphs to detect and explain any errors or inconsistencies in the data presentation, labeling, or interpretation.